Kerry has increased its presence in the US beverages market with a $96 million (€78 million) acquisition of two companies, Oregon Chai and Extreme Foods.
The company did not disclose the purchase price of the individual companies but said the speciality beverage sector in the US was growing at about 20 per cent a year.
Oregon Chai's main brand is Chai Tea Latte and Chai Tea Latte mixes. The product is supplied to groceries and natural food stores in the US and Canada.
Extreme Foods produces ice- blended fruit smoothies and frappes for coffee houses and department store cafes under the brand names JetTea and JetCafe. Kerry said the growth of the healthy fat-free drinks sector was considerable in America at present.
"With increasing demand for health-conscious, natural, lifestyle beverages, the addition of market-leading brands is a further significant step in building Kerry's portfolio in the dynamic US food service and all natural beverage sectors," said Mr Hugh Friel, Kerry's chief executive.
Kerry already owns several American beverage and natural foods brands. Among them are Stearns and Lehman which produces and markets more than 140 syrups, dressings, extract, oils and specialty sugars and toppings.
Kerry also owns Da Vinci Gourmet, a Seattle-based company which produces coffee ingredients.
This is the second acquisition announcement from Kerry this year. It recently moved into the food pharmaceuticals sector, paying $440 million (350 million) for the Quest Food Ingredients group.
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