MAINZ, GERMANY — Pretzel maker Ditsch, part of Valora Group, acquired the assets of Kettering, England-based WorldBake Ltd., establishing Ditsch UK as a stand-alone business.

WorldBake produces frozen baked goods for the wholesale, retail and manufacturing sectors. By incorporating the team and operations into Ditsch UK, the company will be able to strengthen its presence and capabilities in the British and Irish markets.

“We’re excited to take this next step in the UK,” says Seb Gooding, CEO of the B2B division of the Valora Group. “Combining our expertise and local knowledge allows us to bring even more pretzel innovation to British and Irish customers.”

To ensure a seamless transition of the WorldBake team and its operations, Peter Hedges will stay on as managing director.

“I’m truly excited about the innovation and opportunities this brings,” Hedges said. “Combining the resources and expertise of Ditsch with the experience of our UK team, we will work with our supply partners, accelerating new product development, improving our insight into market trends, and strengthening our offering and service to customers.”

Across the pond, Ditsch has made investments in its American business. In October 2024, Ditsch USA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new pretzel production facility in Springdale, OH.