German firm Dr. Oetker picks up McCain pizza

The German-based food conglomerate Dr. Oetker has purchased the North American frozen pizza operations of McCain Foods. Financial terms of the deal were not available. It covers the Ellio’s brand in the U.S. and a two-year licence for the use of the McCain brand name in Canada. McCain has retained ownership however of its Pizza Pocket operation. The German firm has been headquartered in Mississauga since 1962 and has subsidiaries in at least 12 other countries including India, Brazil and Australia.  This year Dr. Oetker opened a new pizza-making plant in London Ontario and now adds  the McCain operations in Grand Falls, N.B., and Lodi, N.J. The company said all 300 McCain employees at both locations will be offered employment with Dr. Oetker. The deal is subject to regulatory approval in Canada. The Oetker firm does not appear to be widely known in Canada, despite its size. It was founded by Doctor August Oetker in 1891. He created an early and popular form of cake mix.