Business briefs ...

Birds Eye has reached an agreement with Arkansas-based Allan Canning Company that will see Allen Canning acquire substantially all of Bird's Eye's non-branded frozen vegetable business. The business processes fresh vegetables, including peas, corn, beans and carrots, and repacks vegetables for major customers including Wal-Mart, Royal Ahold, Kroger, Albertsons, SuperValu, Publix, Associated Wholesale Grocers, SYSCO, Gordon Food Service and US Foodservice. It includes plants in Brockport, Bergen and Oakfield, New York; Fairwater, Wisconsin; and Montezuma, Georgia, and employs almost 700 people. Allen Canning will also acquire the "Chill Ripe" and "Garden Classics" brand names in the transaction. The deal is expected to close in December, subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

PepsiCo has snapped up self-styled super-premium juice producer Naked Juice Co. from private equity group North Castle Partners. PepsiCo said the deal, secured for an undisclosed sum, was another step in its aim to further meet U.S. demand for "health and wellness" products. Based in California and formed in 1983, Naked Juice has a portfolio of 25 juice and smoothies made without any added sugars or preservatives. The Naked Juice stable is divided into functional families, each providing a different group of benefits. The families include superfoods, antioxidants and proteins. PepsiCo said it would broaden the distribution of the products, while continuing to use Naked Juice's "successful grassroots marketing and sales efforts". Naked Juice already enjoys annual turnover of around $150 million.

USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is delaying the effective date and establishing a staggered implementation for the collection of user fees for inspections of Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables, commercial vessels, trucks, railroad cars and aircraft, as well as international passengers entering the United States from Canada. According to APHIS, the delay will allow affected industries time to prepare for the change. Effective January 1, 2007, air passengers arriving in the United States from Canada will no longer be exempt from the international air passenger user fee. Effective March 1, 2007, the remaining provisions of the rule will take effect, including the removal of the user fee exemption for all commercial conveyances entering the United States from Canada.

CoolBrands also announced that it has entered into a letter of intent with Healthy Food Holdings with respect to a sale of its CoolBrands Dairy subsidiary for consideration of $45 million in cash, a $5 million subordinated note and a warrant to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of stock. The transaction remains subject to the entering into of definitive agreements, which the parties intend to negotiate and execute on or before November 30, 2006, CoolBrands said. The company has closed the previously-announced sale by its subsidiary, Eskimo Pie Frozen Distribution, of its "direct store door" frozen distribution assets in Florida, California, Oregon and Washington to Southwest Traders for net consideration of approximately $5 million.

American Harvest Baking Company (AHB), a national manufacturer of high-end artisan breads and desserts, has announced its acquisition of The Classic Cake Company, a Philadelphia-based bakery. AHB said the move was part of its aim to expand its bakery offering. Through the acquisition, AHB will extend its presence in the wholesale and retail markets. AHB will trade as AHB Foods and individually promote each of its brands.