AdvancePierre To Acquire Stuffed Sandwich Maker Better Bakery

CINCINNATI -- AdvancePierre Foods said it will acquire the manufacturing assets of Better Bakery LLC, a Valencia, CA-based manufacturer of premium stuffed sandwiches. Production will be relocated to Caseyville, IL, where AdvancePierre runs sandwich manufacturing operation it acquired last month from Landshire Inc. | READ MORE

Founded in 2010, Better Bakery produces stuffed sandwiches and other licensed products, including Pretzel Melts, Skinny Melts and Breakfast Melts. AdvancePierre said the acquisition will expand its presence in "on-trend, clean label products," which will enable new distribution and market penetration with premium and natural food customers across its foodservice, retail and convenience channels.

Better Bakery chief executive and cofounder Bryan Freeman has been hired by AdvancePierre as vice-president of premium and natural handhelds.

AdvancePierre president and chief executive John Simons said stuffed handheld sandwiches are the largest category in the frozen sandwich market, and that Better Bakery is driving the lion's share of the growth in the category.

"Its choice-ingredient, premium-price product portfolio is comprised of sandwiches for all eating occasions, which is pivotal for us as we aggressively grow our leadership position as the nation's No. 1 provider of sandwiches for lunch, dinner and snacking, and look to close the gap between AdvancePierre and the leading breakfast sandwich brand," Simons said.

He said the Caseyville manufacturing facility provides significant capacity to support future growth of the Better Bakery line with its internal slicing capability, central distribution footprint and expansive logistics infrastructure to existing AdvancePierre customers.

AdvancePierre is expected to close the Better Bakery acquisition in the second quarter of 2015. Its recent acquisition of Landshire closed on January 30.