Hormel Foods Corp.’s latest purchase bolsters its deli meat lineup.

Austin, Minnesota-based Hormel announced Oct. 31 it has entered into an agreement to buy Hayward, California-based Columbus Manufacturing Inc., which makes premium deli meats and salami under the Columbus Craft Meats banner.

"We are pleased to add Columbus to the Hormel Foods family,” says Jim Snee, Hormel’s president and CEO. “Columbus has an outstanding reputation in the food industry and is well-positioned in the advantaged retail deli category."

Snee adds that Columbus is capitalizing on one of the fastest-growing areas in the retail grocery store with premium, authentic products that are “on trend with today's consumers who are looking for unique experiences, flavors, and products.”

Hormel will pay about $850 million for Columbus, whose annual sales total approximately $300 million and whose expected growth rate is greater than 5 percent.

Hormel’s other deli meat brands include Hormel, Jennie-O, Applegate and DiLusso.