By Brazil Stock Guide — Brazil’s Zanchetta Group has agreed to acquire Ceratti from Hormel Foods, marking the company’s entry into premium processed pork and expanding its multi-protein strategy in Latin America’s largest food market.
The transaction includes the full business and operations of Ceratti, a traditional Brazilian cold-cuts and charcuterie brand with more than 90 years of history. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. Santander advised on the deal, which remains subject to approval by Cade, Brazil’s antitrust watchdog, and other relevant authorities.
The deal brings Ceratti back under Brazilian ownership and gives Zanchetta, the owner of the Alliz, Mondelli and Frangoeste brands, a stronger position in branded, higher-value protein products. The group, historically known for poultry and food production, will now gain exposure to processed pork, cold cuts and charcuterie – categories that sit closer to the end consumer and typically carry stronger brand differentiation than commodity protein.
Ceratti is one of Brazil’s most iconic names in cold cuts, particularly in São Paulo, where its Bologna mortadella has long been associated with the city’s food culture. The brand had been controlled by U.S.-based Hormel since 2017, when the American food company acquired Cidade do Sol, Ceratti’s then-owner, for about $104 million. At the time, the deal marked Hormel’s direct entry into Brazil and was presented as part of its push to expand in international value-added meats.
The sale to Zanchetta closes that chapter for Hormel and returns the 90-year-old brand to a Brazilian food group with family roots, industrial scale and a growing portfolio of consumer-facing brands. Hormel said it expects the transaction to have a minimal impact on its adjusted fiscal 2026 financial results.
For Zanchetta, the acquisition represents a move up the value chain and deeper into the B2C market. Ceratti adds a well-known retail and food-service brand, a portfolio tied to everyday consumption and celebratory occasions, and a premium position in cold cuts and charcuterie.
“Ceratti is a brand with history, high quality and a broad portfolio. It has a genuine connection with Brazilian taste, especially among consumers in São Paulo,” José Carlos Zanchetta, chief executive officer of Zanchetta Group, said in a statement. “This acquisition goes beyond entering a new category.”
Ceratti’s industrial facility is located in Vinhedo, in the state of São Paulo. According to the companies, the plant already operates with several ESG initiatives, including wastewater treatment, elimination of sludge disposal to landfills and a boiler powered by renewable fuel.
Until the transaction receives regulatory clearance, Ceratti and Zanchetta will continue to operate independently, preserving their existing relationships with employees, commercial partners, suppliers and customers.