CHICAGO — Alpha Baking Co., Inc., a manufacturer of baked foods and supplier to nationwide private label retailers, national restaurant chains and other institutions, has acquired two baking plants from Omaha-based ConAgra Foods, Inc. The facilities are located in Chicago and Wyoming, Mich. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
With the acquisition, Alpha Baking said it will be able to expand into sweet goods, including muffins, petit fours, cupcakes and pound cakes.
“Alpha Baking has been producing high-quality bread, buns and rolls since 1979, and we will now utilize our experience and attention to customer service to operate in the sweet goods category,” said Lawrence Marcucci, president and chief executive officer of Alpha Baking. “It is an exciting time for us.”
Tim Lotesto, director of marketing and key account development at Alpha Baking, said there will be no interruption in production at the facilities, with both plants filling Alpha Baking orders effective immediately.
In addition to the two facilities acquired from ConAgra, Alpha Baking operates four production plants: two in Chicago, one in La Porte, Ind., and one in Manitowoc, Wis. The company has more than 2,000 employees, 14 production lines and more than 300 fresh delivery routes.
Alpha Baking was established in 1979 with the acquisition of the Mary Ann Baking Co. in Chicago. Founded in 1935, Mary Ann is best known for the Chicago-style poppy seed hot dog bun. In 1981, Alpha Baking purchased S. Rosen’s Baking Co., a Chicago staple and baker of Jewish hearth rye bread and variety rolls since 1909. Through the years, Alpha Baking has continued to grow with the acquisition of Kreamo Bakers in La Porte in 1979, National Baking Co. in Chicago in 1997, and Natural Ovens Bakery in Manitowoc in 2007.
The company’s brands include Mary Ann, S. Rosen’s, Natural Ovens Bakery and Castle.
