Mann Packing sold to Del Monte

A global company with big name recognition is buying a family-owned business here on the Central Coast. The big announcement was made this morning that Del Monte is buying Mann Packing based in Salinas.

Mann is considered a leading supplier of fresh vegetables. Chances are you probably have one of their salad kits or nourish bowls in your refrigerator right now.

Mann Packing has been in business for 79 years and will now have a new owner after this morning’s announcement. Del Monte Fresh Produce purchased Mann Packing for about 361-million dollars. Officials with Mann say they, along with all other employees, will stay on board during the transition and no one is expected to be laid off as a result of the change. They think it’s a win for everyone.

“I think it’s been really well received by our customers and it’s been really well received by our growers. Again, we really worked strategically to find the right fit for our employees and the legacy of Mann Packing and I really think we found it with Del Monte,” said Chairwoman and CEO of Mann Packing, Lorri Koster.

Koster says Mann will be like the fresh vegetable division of Del Monte, which mainly deals in fresh fruit. She says they’ll be the western vegetable operations of Del Monte.

And a lot of people have asked what this means for the new Mann plant that’s being built in Gonzales. We were told plans for that have not changed and it’s still scheduled to be open in June.