This column is part of our The Last Word series, which invites noted professionals to provide closing thoughts at the end of each issue of Commercial Baking. See the full issue here.
KANSAS CITY, MO — Throughout my more than 25 years working in the consumer goods sector, I’ve seen a lot of companies attempt to grow through acquisitions. Those that get it right know it’s not about collecting logos. The real work starts after the deal closes.
The most successful companies treat acquisitions not as transactions, but as opportunities to build something stronger together. That means staying focused on the customer, building trust with new teams and aligning on shared values.
Of course, the biggest challenge is integration. A lot of companies choose to stay separate operationally, but in our experience, that can limit both scale and efficiency. Real integration goes beyond aligning systems and processes; it takes a thoughtful approach to people, culture and purpose. When done right, it creates a stronger, more connected organization.
Rise Baking Co. has acquired 10 companies since its founding in 2013. With our recent acquisition of Table Talk Pies, we combined their century of pie-making expertise with our scale, resources and distribution network. That integration expanded our capabilities and provided more geographic reach to support our customers.
What is our approach to integrating companies?
Culture building. At Rise, people are our finest ingredient. It takes a continual investment in talent development and training to engage and empower a growing team. That’s why we focus on bringing new team members into the fold quickly through shared systems, regular town halls and inclusive communication, so they’re equipped to contribute from day one.
Value creation. Whether it’s expanding distribution reach, introducing existing products to new customers or aligning go-to-market capabilities, value is created when the sum becomes greater than its parts. Leveraging insights, product innovation and shared customer relationships allows us to unlock new opportunities, accelerate performance, and create long-term value for the company and our customers.
Operational alignment. Standardizing infrastructure across all facilities and optimizing your supply chain helps simplify workflows and cut down on waste.
The true measure of success in expanding a multi-category organization is how well that growth is harnessed to serve customers. The companies that lead in this regard integrate their culture and systems to keep people and purpose at the center of it all.
