CHICAGO — Arbor Investments is adding to its baking platform with the acquisition of Hudson Baking Co., L.L.C., Hudson, Wis. Founded in 2001 by Kristen and Tim Rieser, Hudson makes marshmallow crispy dessert bars, brownies, cookies and other baked foods. The company supplies customers in the co-manufacturing, convenience store, grocery retail and food service channels.
Hudson Baking will join Arbor’s baking platform, Le Petit Pain Holdings, which includes New French Bakery, Inc. and Best Maid Cookie Company, Inc. New French is a Minneapolis-based commercial bakery that manufactures branded and private label take-and-bake and fresh artisan bread. Best Maid, which was acquired by Arbor last fall, is headquartered in River Falls, Wis., and is a manufacturer of branded and private label gourmet cookies in both fully baked and frozen dough formats.
The Le Petit Pain platform is overseen by Mike Schultz, an Arbor operating partner with more than 20 years’ experience in the baking industry, including as a former executive at CSM Bakery Products and Minneapolis-based Best Brands Corp.
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| Brody Lynn, vice-president of Arbor. |
“Hudson thrived under the leadership of Kristen and Tim, highlighted by the company’s track record of above market top-line growth and excellent reputation,” said Brody Lynn, vice-president of Arbor. “We are excited about adding Hudson to our Le Petit Pain platform. This acquisition will enable us to continue to execute on our growth strategy by capitalizing on the tremendous opportunities we see in the baking industry.”
Mr. Schultz added Hudson’s marshmallow crispy bar is “highly complementary” to Arbor’s existing offering and will allow Arbor to better serve customers through a more comprehensive product lineup.
“We expect significant near-term opportunities to arise from offering Hudson’s products to our platform’s existing customer base,” he said.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Chicago, Arbor Investments is a specialized private equity firm that focuses exclusively on acquiring companies in the food, beverage and related industries. The firm has acquired or invested in over 43 food, beverage and related companies in North America. Earlier this year the company sold its stake in Gold Standard Baking to private equity firm Tricor Pacific Capital. Based in Chicago, Gold Standard makes frozen laminated dough products sold through grocery retailers, food service distributors, quick-serve restaurant chains, commissaries and convenience stores throughout North America. Arbor had owned a controlling interest in Gold Standard since 2008.
