Hearthside Foods to acquire Weston baking division

DOWNERS GROVE - Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, a contract food manufacturer, Monday said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of the Cookies, Crackers, Cones and Wafers Division of Weston Foods, which includes six North American bakery facilities, including one in Canada.

This acquisition expands the Hearthside network to 43 production facilities in the U.S., Canada and Europe, bringing 1,100 full-time employees, additional production capacity and an expanded base of premier food company customers.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. The parties anticipate the deal to close before the end of the first quarter of 2022, Hearthside said.

Baking is one of Hearthside's four primary production categories, along with bars, fresh and frozen entrees, and food packaging.

The six new facilities are located in North Sioux City, South Dakota; Front Royal, Virginia; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Somerset, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; and Kitchener, Ontario.

"The Weston acquisition is an ideal complement to our existing production network and business, bringing baking capacity, a roster of premier customers, expanded capabilities and enhanced geographic coverage," said Chuck Metzger, CEO of Downers Grove-based Hearthside.