Firma Acquires Established Italian Food Manufacturer
Marketwired
HENDERSON, NV--(Marketwired - Apr 1, 2015) - Firma Holdings Corp. (OTCQB: FRMA) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sicilian Sun Corp., and its wholly owned Italian operating subsidiary, Sicilian Sun Foods s.r.l. The acquisition includes two production facilities located in Alcamo and Catania on the island of Sicily, in Italy. Sicily's climate and fertile volcanic ash soil have contributed to its long history of generating a variety of agricultural products, noted cuisines, and wines.
The Alcamo facility has been in operation for six years and consists of a state-of-the-art production factory encompassing 53,500 square feet. This BRC certified facility currently produces private label products for Carrefour - Italia and both private and branded label products for Auchan, Conad, and other major retailers in the European market. The facility specializes in the manufacturing of three product categories: baked goods, frozen desserts, and semi-finished products made from natural ingredients. These products include assorted pastries, ricotta cannoli, as well as cakes, breads, rice balls, croissants, and a variety of other frozen and packaged items. The frozen desserts produced in this facility include gelato, tartufi, mousse, sorbets and Italian ices, and other frozen treats. Many of the products are proprietary formulas and include a coveted superiority owing to naturally sourced Sicilian ingredients. These unique, high quality products have generated sales growth of 40% in 2014 and a projected growth estimate of more than 100% for 2015.
The Catania facility is located in the Belpasso industrial zone, situated in the foothills of Mt Etna, where there are historical accounts of some of the first gelato creations. This new, state-of-the-art, 48,000 sq. ft. BRC/IFS certified facility contains the latest in automated technology for the commercial production of artisanal gelato products.
In 2014, Sicilian Sun Foods partnered with California based food supplier La Petite Foods and US based global food broker Daymon Worldwide. La Petite Food's retail partnerships have included Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, UNFI Distributing and many other specialty markets. Daymon Worldwide operates on six continents, providing end-to-end retail services focused on Private Brand Development, Strategy & Branding, Sourcing & Logistics, and Retail Services & Consumer Experience Marketing. Sicilian Sun Foods utilized the services of La Petite Foods and Daymon Worldwide in contracting with major grocery chains consisting of thousands of retailers throughout the United States to manufacture private label and branded products. The initial stocking order is scheduled to begin in June, 2015, with sales estimates of $3.5 million per quarter by the 4th quarter of 2015.
Sicilian Sun Corp will be held as 100% owned subsidiary of Firma Holdings Corp., where resources will be invested to grow this sustainable and scalable business. Firma Holdings is excited to begin bringing these exceptional, high quality Italian food products to the world.
Firma currently holds three wholly owned subsidiaries, focused on; Development and production of food products; Technology; and Mining.
SICILIAN SUN FOODS: Operates two state-of-the-art production facilities located in Alcamo and Catania on the island of Sicily in Italy. The facility specializes in the manufacturing of three product categories: baked goods, frozen desserts, and semi-finished products made from natural ingredients. These products include assorted pastries, ricotta cannoli, as well as cakes, breads, rice balls, croissants, and a variety of other frozen and packaged items. The frozen desserts produced in this facility include gelato, tartufi, mousse, sorbets and Italian ices, and other frozen treats. Many of the products are proprietary formulas and include a coveted superiority owing to naturally sourced Sicilian ingredients.
SMARTPAC GLOBAL CORP: Holds intellectual property for the preservation and protection of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers during extended periods of shipping and storage. The packaging assets are comprised of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property in the United States, Europe, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, Japan, and Chile regarding system and method for packaging of bulk quantities of fresh produce and flowers incorporating modified atmosphere packaging. These assets also include pending applications throughout the world regarding the active treatment of modified atmosphere packaging.
GRACEPOINT MINING CORP: Gracepoint currently owns two mining projects that encompass over 45,000 acres in Mexico. The 100% owned Don Roman district has 70+ distinct structures identified within 8 km diameter of a 100% owned centralized processing mill. The 100% owned Picacho group has 9 gold-bearing veins over 4 mineralized target areas with an aggregate vein strike length of over 10.8 km.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained herein are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain delays beyond the Company's control with respect to market acceptance of new technologies or products, delays in testing and evaluation of products, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please read the full disclaimer at www.FirmaHoldings.com.
