Milling & Baking News - December 9, 2003 - 1

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DECEMBER 9, 2003

Dawn Foods to acquire Bunge
bakery business for $76 million
JACKSON, MICH. - Dawn Food Products, Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the bakery business of
Bunge North America for $76 million.
The transaction includes assets that
produce mixes, frozen dough, syrups and
toppings.
The transaction is subject to regulatory
approval and other closing conditions but
is expected to be completed by year end.
"Dawn Foods is very excited about
this acquisition," said Ron Jones, chief
executive officer of Dawn Food. "We have
a great deal of respect for the way Bunge

Story on Page 23

Willett, Gaesser to
square off in debate
at A.S.B. conference
WASHINGTON - Two prominent scientists specializing in health and fitness will
go head to head in a debate at the 80th
anniversary conference of the American
Society of Baking.
In what the A.S.B. is dubbing "The Great
Carbohydrate Debate," Walter C. Willett,
professor of epidemiology and nutrition
and chairman of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health,
and Glenn Gaesser, professor of exercise
physiology and director of the kinesiology
program at the University of Virginia, will
discuss the benefits and detriments of carbohydrate consumption.
Dr. Willett and Dr. Gaesser will present
their research and discuss the science and
Continued on Page 18

has grown its business, and this acquisition
will help Dawn grow in our service to the
baking industry."
Bunge has bakery mix facilities in Bradley, Ill.; Modesto, Calif.; and Seattle. Its
frozen dough plants are in Mexico, Mo.,
and Tustin and Modesto, Calif. A syrup
and toppings plant is in Seattle and bakery
research and development facilities are located in Seattle and St. Louis.
Miles Jones, Dawn executive vice-president, said the Bunge assets represent "an excellent geographic and product line fit" with
Continued on Page 11

J&J Snack Foods plans to buy
Country Home's Atlanta plant
NEW HAVEN, CONN. - The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut
has scheduled a Dec. 19 hearing on a motion by Country Home Bakers, Inc. to sell its
remaining assets to J&J Snack Foods Corp.
J&J, based at Pennsauken, N.J., has
agreed to purchase Country Home's Metropolitan Parkway plant in Atlanta and its
Shelton, Conn., office assets for $7.4 million
plus consideration of up to $1.3 million aris-

LATE

ing from the release of certain employe severance and related employment claims.
Country Home, which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy provisions since last February, currently has 300
employes.
The sale of the Country Home assets to
J&J Snack Foods is subject to higher and
better offers at an auction to be conducted
Continued on Page 10

NEWS
ST. LOUIS - Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. last week increased its
presence in the food service business and entered the frozen food segment by completing the acquisition of Bakery
Chef, Inc., a producer of frozen griddle products (pancakes,
waffles and French toast) and other frozen, pre-baked foods.
"Ralcorp is now poised to take advantage of growth opportunities in frozen foods and enhance its offerings to food
service customers," Joe R. Micheletto, vice-chairman, said Dec. 3. Under the
purchase agreement (see Milling & Baking News of Nov. 18, Page 10), Ralcorp
Continued on Page 8

Ralcorp
completes
purchase

inside

THIS WEEK

Ingredient

Hausmann
up at Bunge;
Klein to
retire

Frito-Lay
closing
Louisville
facility

Microbiologist
to replace
Levitt at
C.F.S.A.N.

Week
30

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Milling & Baking News - December 9, 2003

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