VANCOUVER – Premium Brands Holdings Corp. has acquired a 62.6% interest in Harriston, Ont.-based Yorkshire Valley Farms Ltd., which specializes in processing and marketing of organic chicken products.

Yorkshire Valley is a processor and producer of organic fresh and frozen chicken with annual sales of approximately C$65 million. The processor operates a 40,000-square-foot processing plant in Harriston.

“Organic protein products are growing faster than the overall category in both Canada and the U.S.,” said George Paleologou, president and chief executive officer of Premium Brands. “This transaction, which combines the unique strengths of Yorkshire with our wide range of resources and capabilities, strongly positions Yorkshire to accelerate its growth in this rapidly expanding market segment. Furthermore, Yorkshire will provide our other branded protein businesses with proprietary access to a relatively scarce resource as they continue to extend their leading position in premium, artisan and specialty value added proteins.”

Yorkshire Valley Farms was founded in 2010 by a group farming families led by Tony Ambler and Tom Ahrens. James Sculthorpe is president and c.e.o. of the company.

“We chose to partner with Premium Brands based on their solid reputation as a supportive long-term investor that respects the unique cultures and values of the businesses they invest in,” Mr. Sculthorpe said.  “We are very much looking forward to a great future together and to leveraging Premium Brands various resources to strengthen our business and accelerate our growth.”