The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the sale is expected to close once regulatory approvals are obtained.

Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, Fearmans Pork was acquired by an affiliate of Sun Capital from Maple Leaf Foods in a corporate carve-out transaction which necessitated assembling a new management team and corporate infrastructure.

Fearmans Pork expanded production to meet demand, implemented new hog procurement programs to improve quality and delivery, and introduced products for niche markets. As a result of these improvements, 2011 sales increased by 16 per cent.

“Fearmans Pork has made great strides as a standalone business,“ said Marc Leder, Co-CEO at Sun Capital Partners.

“Management has effectively created an infrastructure and stabilized hog procurement, which assures the region’s hog farmers that they have a committed and capable partner. Sofina Foods is a natural steward for the next stage of its growth.“

Sun Capital Partners has prior experience in the sector through its affiliated portfolio companies, including Contessa Premium Foods, a leading US processor and distributor of premium seafood and frozen convenience meals; Creekstone Farms, a processor of high-quality Black Angus beef and seller of branded fresh beef and value-added products; Harry’s Fresh Foods, a producer of premium home-style refrigerated foods for the retail and foodservice markets; and Sunrise Growers-Frozsun, a leading value-added U.S. supplier of frozen strawberry products and a distributor and marketer of fresh strawberries.