Back to Nature Brand Sold to Barilla Group
B&G Foods, Inc. has completed the sale of the Back to Nature brand to BA Brussels, LLC, a subsidiary of Barilla America, Inc.
B&G Foods intends to use the proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of long-term debt and the purchase of assets useful in B&G Foods’ business, and to pay taxes, fees and expenses related to the sale.
Back to Nature features a portfolio of plant-based, non-GMO products that compete in the United States cookies, crackers, granola and nuts & trail mix categories. Founded in 1960, the brand is mainly distributed in the U.S. natural and specialty channels and is committed to providing people with good food made with nature-inspired recipes.
Barilla, a fourth-generation family-owned company founded in 1877 is an international food company, leading in pasta and bakery products, and present in more than 100 countries. It has a strong bond with the United States, where it has operated since 1996, and is currently the #1 pasta brand. The acquisition of Back to Nature is consistent with Barilla’s long-term strategy to build a strong multi-brand bakery platform in the United States, where the Group is already market leader in the crispbread category with the Wasa brand.
Barilla is a leader in the European bakery products sector and has expertise in, and a reputation for, healthy, good-for-you snacking products. The acquisition of Back to Nature provides Barilla with a strong platform from which to build and grow in the dynamic North American bakery marketplace.
“At Barilla, we aspire to build a long-term and significant presence in the U.S. baking industry and this operation reminds me of when we first started our journey with pasta over 25 years ago and we are now the market leader. The acquisition of Back to Nature is a key step for this exciting journey”, said Guido Barilla, chairman of the Barilla Group. “We focus all our business activities and products on health and indulgence and hence Back to Nature was a natural choice. We are excited to see how our efforts will evolve in the future”.
Barilla confirms its commitment to ensure people have access to good, sustainable food with consistent improvements in its nutritional profile. The Italian based family company, founded 145 years ago, brings together 8,700 people around the world, and a supply chain that shares its values and passion for quality.
Barilla is a family business chaired by the brothers Guido, Luca and Paolo Barilla. It was founded by their great-grandfather Pietro Barilla, who opened a bakery in Parma in 1877. Barilla is renowned in Italy and around the world for the excellence of its food products. With its brands – Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Pan di Stelle, Gran Cereale, Harrys, Pavesi, Wasa, Filiz, Yemina and Vesta, Misko, Voiello, Academia Barilla, First, Catelli, Lancia, Splendor, Tolerant and Pasta Evangelists – it advocates tasty, hearty and wholesome nutrition, inspired by the Mediterranean Diet and the Italian lifestyle.
Based in Parsippany, N.J., B&G Foods and its subsidiaries manufacture, sell and distribute high-quality, branded shelf-stable and frozen foods across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. B&G Foods’ portfolio of more than 50 brands includes B&G, B&M, Bear Creek, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Green Giant, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, Mama Mary’s, Maple Grove Farms, New York Style, Ortega, Polaner, Spice Islands and Victoria.
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Chrissy Teigen’s Baking Mixes, Banana Bread Available
Cravings, the food and lifestyle brand born out of New York Times #1 best-selling, award-winning cookbooks by Chrissy Teigen, is working with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, the iconic global coffee and tea company, to make Teigen’s viral banana bread available by the slice for the first time.
The partnership comes on the heels of Cravings launching its viral line of home baking mixes, including Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread Mix, which is based on the banana bread recipe that broke the internet from Teigen’s Cravings: Hungry For More cookbook. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be the first shop in the country to offer the best-selling banana bread by the slice.
“It’s been amazing to see people all across the country baking this banana bread from the new Cravings mixes, and now that it’s available by the slice at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, it’s even easier for people to get a taste!” says Chrissy Teigen.
Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread from Cravings is available by the slice at 33 cafés across the Greater Los Angeles area from Dec. 14-23, and retails for $4.95.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Chrissy to offer one of her hugely popular treats exclusively at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf,” said Daniella Voysey, head of marketing, Americas, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. “We love how Chrissy inspires people to get in the kitchen and try new things, and we can’t wait to share her craveable creation with our guests during this holiday pop up.”
For more information on specific locations, visit https://www.coffeebean.com/chrissy-teigens-ultimate-banana-bread . For more information on the Cravings home baking mixes, or to purchase Chrissy’s Ultimate Banana Bread Mix, visit CravingsbyChrissyTeigen.com.
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‘Hoo Hoo’ Holidays With Pillsbury Doughboy Sweater
The magic of the holidays is right up your sleeve with Pillsbury’s new limited-edition holiday Doughboy sweater. To celebrate an iconic holiday menu staple, the sweater features a scannable Pillsbury crescent roll on the left-hand sleeve. Simply hold your smart phone to the NFC chip sewn into the crescent roll on the sweater to unlock fan-favorite seasonal recipes, holiday playlists, tips for baking and inspiration to bring even more magic to the holidays!
The excitement doesn’t stop there! Since 1965, the Doughboy’s iconic laugh has been synonymous with baking traditions. And now you can take that laugh with you to every holiday party, ugly sweater contest and cookie exchange. Just press the belly of the Doughboy on the sweater to hear the classic “hoo hoo!”
The Pillsbury holiday sweater adds an extra sprinkle of joy this season, but Pillsbury products add even more magic with less stress, making holiday baking easier than ever. From Crescent Rolls and Grands! Biscuits and Cinnamon Rolls to a wide variety of seasonal Cookie Dough including holiday sugar, gingerbread and candy cane flavors, as well as snowman and reindeer shapes, Pillsbury has everything you need for family fun in the kitchen!
“Pillsbury sits at the center of so many family holiday traditions, and our new limited-edition holiday sweater is a fun way to create even more shared joy during the holidays, reminding consumers that Pillsbury and the holidays go hand-in-hand,” said Tiffany Seelen, senior manager, brand experience.
The holiday sweater joins Pillsbury fan-favorite products as another fun and memorable way to bring loved ones together with traditions old and new.
Unlock ready-made cheer and easy baking solutions right on your sleeve with the limited-edition Pillsbury holiday sweater, available at Shop.Pillsbury.com for $75 while supplies last.
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