Dessert Holdings snaps up Willamette Valley Pie Co.
The acquisition will expand the company's clean-label, premium dessert portfolio.
Courtesy of Willamette Valley Pie Co.
Dessert Holdings, a North American dessert company, announced that it has acquired Willamette Valley Pie Company, a manufacturer of pie and dessert products. The acquisition complements Dessert Holdings’ existing platform of scratch-made, premium dessert brands serving retail and foodservice customers. Willamette will continue to operate under its current management team led by President Austin Kelly. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.
Established in 2001 on the Roth family farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley region, Willamette is reportedly known for its highly customizable, hand-crafted fruit pies, cobblers, and dessert products that use natural ingredients, including farm-fresh fruit, locally sourced dairy, and a 100% butter crust. Willamette works closely with independent, artisanal growers to source quality produce at peak flavor, it says. The brand's products include Dutch Caramel Apple Pie, Cherry Crunch Pie, Oregon Berry Pie, Peach Cobblers, handheld pies, and more.
“Willamette’s assortment of clean label, homemade real fruit pies and desserts is highly complementary to our existing portfolio of premium desserts,” says Paul Lapadat, CEO, Dessert Holdings. “Willamette holds a distinctive market position, having garnered a deeply loyal following, forged key connections with local growers and suppliers, and established long-standing relationships with leading retailers. We see an incredible opportunity to support the company’s growth, bolster its retail relationships, and drive expansion of its beloved products.”
“For more than 20 years, Willamette has been more than a dessert company—we’ve been a part of family tables, celebrations, and everyday moments of joy," says Kelly. “We’re incredibly proud of our heritage and how far we’ve come—growing into a trusted, distinctive partner for leading retailers nationwide. Joining the Dessert Holdings platform is an exciting new chapter, and we believe they share our passion and values to help us grow while staying true to who we are.”
RSM served as accounting advisor and Fredrikson & Byron P.A. served as legal advisor to Dessert Holdings. Whipstitch Capital served as financial advisor and Davis Wright Tremaine as legal advisor to Willamette Valley Pie Co.
Related: Dessert Holdings to return to IDDBA
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