A company linked to Italy-based chocolate heavyweight Ferrero is to acquire US biscotti maker Nonni’s Bakery.
CTH Invest is buying Nonni’s, based in Wexford, Pennsylvania, from private-equity firm Vestar Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 1988 and with an Italian heritage, Nonni’s Bakery manufactures “premium artisanal” biscotti cookies and baked goods, specialising in chocolate and inclusions-enhanced biscotti and, an Italian speciality, Cantuccini-type cookies.
Its portfolio includes the brands Nonni’s THINaddictives, Nonni’s Bites, La Dolce Vita and its recently launched Nonni’s Snackers.
The company operates four manufacturing plants and has approximately 350 employees.
Ferrero said the planned acquisition would “strengthen its presence in North America and continue its growth in the sweet-packaged food industry globally”.
Just Food has asked the Italian company for further comment.
Mark Kleinman, CEO of Nonni’s, said: “The coming together of Nonni’s Bakery with the Ferrero extended family returns Nonni’s to its Italian roots and plants our great brands into the most fertile soil for continued growth and development.”
CTH Invest is a Ferrero-related Belgian holding company that owns brands including, Burton’s Biscuit Company and Fox’s Biscuits in the UK, Kelsen Group in Denmark, Delacre Biscuits in Belgium and France’s Michel et Augustin, which it bought from dairy giant Danone in December.
