CHICAGO — A new private equity-backed baking company joined the mix during this year’s IDDBA, held June 1-3 in New Orleans.
Supported by HC Private Investments, Artisan Bakery was formed from the acquisition of Battle Creek, MI-based Snackwerks and Marysville, PA-based Specialty Bakers.
Snackwerks, a mid-scale co-manufacturer, crafts an array of products including rotary moulded cookies, wire-cut cookies and bars in a 40,000-square-foot facility with three semi-automated lines. Founded in 1901, Specialty Bakers is best known for its ladyfinger production capabilities in addition to other cakes and sweet goods.
Kirk Trofholz was named CEO of Artisan Bakery, bringing more than three decades of experience at food manufacturing companies, including Nielsen-Massey Vanillas and Dawn Foods, to the role.
“Artisan Bakery is built on a simple but powerful idea: Great brands deserve great support,” Trofholz said. “We’re bringing companies with differentiated capabilities together and helping them reach new heights through innovation, resources and a collaborative network.”
As a unified company, the Artisan Bakery platform will support the production of large-scale baked goods across various dayparts.
