In the US, Bake-Line Group, a leading supplier of private label cookies and crackers, has purchased Turnbull Bakeries, a Tennessee-based private label manufacturer of biscuit and wafer products.
The purchase price was not disclosed. Soros Private Equity Partners, New York, led the investment group for the transaction. Bake-Line Group, formerly known as Atlantic Baking Group, underwent a corporate name change earlier this month.
David Shanholtz, President and CEO, said : "The acquisition of Turnbull Bakeries is part of our overall strategy of becoming the industry-leading supplier of private label cookies and crackers. Turnbull represents a niche product line extension of sugar wafers and private label cones, as well as key outsourcing relationships."
Turnbull Bakeries has two facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with combined employment of approximately 300.
"In combination with our Pittsburgh cracker plant and two recent private label acquisitions, Bake-Line Products and four Consolidated Biscuit Company (CBC) plants, Turnbull Bakeries gives us the ability to serve our customers with a full line of products," said Jim Spear, executive vice-president, chief financial officer and general manager. "We will continue to pursue our growth strategy by adding other niche private label products," Spear added.
Bake-Line Group, headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, was formed as Atlantic Baking Group in 1999 with the reopening of a closed Nabisco cracker facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since that time, the company has established a broad customer base, steadily increased its sales volume and distributes products nationally.
The company now has approximately 1,500 employees and facilities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Marietta, Oklahoma; Birmingham, Alabama; North Little Rock, Arkansas; two plants in South Beloit, Illinois; and the two Turnbull facilities in Chattanooga.