Artisan Bakery, a new bakery platform backed by HC Private Investments, officially launched this week in New Orleans at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show. Formed to bring together bakery and dessert brands under one roof, Artisan began its journey with the acquisition of two companies: Snackwerks, a flexible contract manufacturer, and Specialty Bakers, a 125-year-old legacy name in in-store bakery favorites like ladyfingers and cake rolls.

At the helm of Artisan is newly appointed CEO Kirk Trofholz, a seasoned executive with more than three decades of experience scaling food brands. A former CEO of Nielsen-Massey, president of Dawn Foods, and president of Barilla North America, Trofholz reportedly brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial drive and enterprise leadership.

"Artisan Bakery is built on a simple but powerful idea: great brands deserve great support," says Trofholz. "We're bringing together companies with differentiated capabilities and helping them reach new heights through innovation, resources, and a comcollaborative network."

As the Artisan family grows, the company says it will focus on delivering innovative baked goods across all dayparts, while continuing to elevate the capabilities and reach of its portfolio.

Related: Dessert Holdings to return to IDDBA