Bake-Line acquires Turnbull

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.