Legacy Bakehouse acquires Classic Cookie, expands its portfolio

USA – Legacy Bakehouse, a US-based contract and private-label manufacturer, has acquired Classic Cookie, at an undisclosed amount, marking its entry into sweet snacks.

In a statement, Legacy Bakehouse said the acquisition expands its product range and geographic reach, adding a retail brand with nationwide distribution. 

Legacy Bakehouse added that the acquisition adds diverse cookie and brownie production capabilities to its contract manufacturing and private-label product portfolio.

Legacy Bakehouse chief commercial officer Alain Vallet-Sandre said, “Adding our contract manufacturing and private label capabilities to Classic Cookie’s strong sales channels, as well as expanding our salty/savoury snacking platform to include sweet, rounds out our offerings, increasing Legacy’s attractiveness as a partner to a broader cross-section of customers.”

Founded in 1984, Classic Cookie, based in Sevierville, Tennessee, produces soft-baked, energy caffeine, and crispy mini cookies. 

The products are available in pouches and boxes at Walmart and other national and regional retailers, as well as through fundraising organisations.

Waukesha-based Legacy Bakehouse, backed by private-equity firm Benford Capital, was established in 1917. 

 The company develops and makes a range of baked snacks and snack components — including pita chips, tortillas, rye chips, garlic chips, bagel chips, croutons, breadsticks and snack mixes, among others — for leading, emerging and private brands.

Legacy Classic Cookie operates a 50,000 ft2 commercial bakery in Sevierville, which was recently expanded to support its growth, the company said. 

The Sevierville facility is going to become Legacy Bakehouse’s third production site, joining its Cudahy, Wisconsin location and the assets of Angelic Bakehouse, acquired in July. 

Greenville, SC-based The Capital Corp., which advised Mannon Specialty Foods on the transaction, said Classic Cookie is one of the largest remaining independent manufacturers of cookie, brownie and cookie dough products in the United States.

“While we are proud of what we’ve built over 41 years, we know that Classic Cookie is just scratching the surface of its future growth potential,” said Jon Mannon, chief executive officer of Classic Cookie. 

He added that, “By partnering with Legacy Bakehouse and Benford Capital Partners, Classic Cookie will have more resources than ever to continue our growth while maintaining our high product and service standards to our loyal and growing customer base.”

Benford Capital principal Brian Behm said that Classic Cookie is a strategic acquisition in their evolving baking platform.

He also added that Classic Cookie’s primary channels, including national retail, vending, contract manufacturing, private label, and fundraising are complementary to Legacy’s.

The Chicago-based private-equity firm which acquired Legacy Bakehouse in 2023, has also invested in Turri’s Italian Foods, Brothers International Food, and Saco Foods.

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