Barilla Group has announced entering into an agreement to acquire B&G Foods’ Back to Nature, which includes a portfolio of plant-based, non-GMO products such as cookies, crackers, granola and nuts and trail mix categories. First founded in 1960, the brand is primarily distributed in the US through natural and specialty channels.
Barilla, a fourth-generation family owned company founded in 1877 producing pasta and bakery products and is present in more than 100 countries. The acquisition of Back to Nature is consistent with Barilla’s long-term strategy to build a strong multi-brand bakery platform in the US, and provides the company with a strong platform from which to build and grow in the North American bakery marketplace.
“At Barilla, we aspire to build a long-term and significant presence in the U.S. baking industry and this operation reminds me of when we first started our journey with pasta over 25 years ago and we are now the market leader. The acquisition of Back to Nature is a key step for this exciting journey,” said Guido Barilla, Chairman of the Barilla Group. “We focus all our business activities and products on health and indulgence and hence Back to Nature was a natural choice. We are excited to see how our efforts will evolve in the future.”
The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023 subject to customary closing conditions.
“Our decision to sell Back to Nature is part of a broader effort at B&G Foods to focus our portfolio on businesses that are core to our long-term strategy as we transition to a business unit structure,” said Casey Keller, President and Chief Executive Officer of B&G Foods. “The divestiture will also allow us to reduce long-term debt, while providing Barilla America with a great brand.”
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