Kerry Group has brought its acquisition spending to date this year to $135 million (€123.7 million) with the purchase of two US ingredients businesses for $67 million.

The food group has acquired Guernsey Bel, a maker of ingredients for frozen desserts and other sweet products, and Pacific Seasonings, which makes seasonings for the meat, prepared foods and food service industries.

Guernsey Bel operates from two facilities in Chicago and in Hayward, California and provides value-added ingredients for the ice-cream, breakfast cereal, bakery, nutritional bar and confectionery industry.

Kerry said the acquisition extended its technological and customer base in this sector which analysts say is growing at a rate of 4 to 6 per cent.

Pacific Seasonings operates from two manufacturing plants in Seattle and Detroit.

"The business will assist the further development of Kerry's seasonings business in North America and, in particular, through its west coast location, will provide a major boost to Kerry's business in that region of the US market," Kerry's managing director Mr Hugh Friel said.

The Seattle-based operation is also organic certified, allowing Kerry to take advantage of the increasing demand for organic products in the US.

Analysts welcomed the acquisitions, saying both companies were a good strategic fit with Kerry's existing North American operations and were in the higher growth areas of the sector.

NCB estimates that the two businesses should add about €45 million to group sales in a full year and about 0.4 cents to earnings per share while Goodbody believes they will add 0.5 cents to EPS.

Earlier this year, Kerry acquired Sunpure, a manufacturer of natural citrus flavours and ingredients, for $68 million.