Israeli small cap food manufacturer and distributor, G. Willi-Food (NASDAQ: WILC), announced this week that it had signed a binding letter of intent to form a new joint company with the owners of Shamir Salads, an Israeli manufacturer/distributor of prepackaged, chilled kosher Mediterranean dips and spreads in Israel and abroad.

Mr. Zwi Williger, President and COO of Willi Food commented, "The growth and popularity of Mediterranean style foods has grown beyond ethnic food borders and into the diet of mainstream consumers. Shamir Salad's line of kosher Mediterranean hummus, dips and spreads, appetizers, and gourmet specialties are in line with Willi-Food's core kosher and healthy living businesses."

I love my hummus with a large helping of chips while I enjoy watching the NFL on Sundays. I also love small cap companies with juicy growth stories and G. Willi is just one of those companies. Israeli Billionaire Arkadi Gaydamak, who controls a huge egg business in Russia, recently signed a deal with G. Willi to begin importing high-end dairy products (read fancy, stinky cheeses) to the nouveau riche in Russia.

As Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) and its competitors look for new overseas markets where business is good and getting better, G. Willi may ultimately be a good M&A candidate for a large multinational food company.

Zack Miller is the lead equity analyst for America Israel Investment Associates, LLC., the managing editor of IsraelNewsletter.com and a former equity analyst for a leading multinational hedge fund.

The author's fund owns WILC as of 11/04/07.