Hometown Foods Acquires Birch Benders

Hometown Food Co. ("Hometown Foods"), home to a portfolio of American brands and controlled by Brynwood Partners VIII LP, has acquired Birch Benders from Sovos Brands Inc. The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Hometown Foods includes brands like Pillsbury Baking, Funfetti, Hungry Jack, Arrowhead Mills, White Lily, Jim Dandy, Martha White, and De Wafelbakkers. 

"We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Birch Benders into Hometown Food Co.," said Henk Hartong, chairman and CEO of Brynwood Partners. "Birch Benders was a pioneer in the health and wellness space and natural baking channel and we are excited to further our commitment to the pancake and baking mix categories. This acquisition is complementary to our existing brand in the space, Arrowhead Mills, and reinforces our commitment to and industry position in the better-for-you category."

"The Birch Benders acquisition is a wonderful addition to Hometown Food Co.'s portfolio of brands and it increases our footprint in the better-for-you, breakfast and baking categories," said Tom Polke, president and CEO of Hometown Food Co. "We are truly delighted to have the opportunity to support Birch Benders in its next phase of growth."

Brynwood Partners' portfolio includes Harvest Hill Beverage Co., Carolina Beverage Group, Hometown Food Co., Buitoni Food Co., and Great Kitchens Food Co. Birch Benders increases the total Brynwood platform to more than $2.3 billion in annual sales.

About Hometown Food Co.

Based in Chicago, Hometown Food Co. was formed by Brynwood Partners in June 2018 to acquire a portfolio of brands from The J.M. Smucker Co. The company manufactures the majority of its products from its 650,000sq-ft facility in Toledo, OH where the company employs 255 full-time employees. 

About Brynwood Partners

Founded in 1984 and based in Greenwich, CT, Brynwood Partners is a private equity firm that makes control investments in North American-based lower middle market companies.