Global beverage company Refresco has agreed to acquire SunOpta Inc., processor of fruit-based snacks, broths and plant-based beverages, for $6.50 per share in cash, according to a release distributed today.
Steve Presley, CEO of Refresco, called the acquisition “an exceptional strategic addition to our portfolio and is consistent with our proven growth strategy to expand our capabilities into adjacent beverage categories. The acquisition of SunOpta is highly complementary and significantly broadens our position in the fast-growing plant-based beverages category.”
SunOpta also is expected to give Refresco a more balanced global footprint by enhancing the company’s presence in North America. For SunOpta, the deal offers the possibility to tap into Refresco’s resources and scale to grow. In August 2025, the company reported double-digit growth in both revenue and operational profitability — and an expansion of its Omak, Wash., fruit snacks facility. That was positive news after the company had previously posted full-year net losses for 2022 through 2024.
The transaction still needs regulatory and court approvals, but it is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, the release stated. Upon completion of the deal, SunOpta will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Refresco.
About the Author
Andy Hanacek
Senior Editor
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.