(PRNewswire) Flowers Foods, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Canyon Bakehouse LLC, a privately held, gluten-free baking company based in Johnstown, Colorado. Canyon Bakehouse will operate as an independent subsidiary of Flowers Foods. The $205 million deal was initially announced last month.
Allen Shiver, Flowers' president and chief executive officer, stated, "This acquisition fits with Flowers' strategy to grow in product adjacencies and gives us the opportunity to gain share in the growing gluten-free segment. The Canyon Bakehouse brand is the fastest-growing gluten-free bread loaf brand in the U.S., and we believe we can help accelerate that growth using our fresh distribution network and retail partnerships."
Canyon Bakehouse was founded by Josh and Christi Skow and Ed Miknevicius in 2009, after Christi was diagnosed with celiac disease. Josh will continue to lead the business as president and Christi will serve as brand ambassador. Flowers Foods, Inc. is one of the largest producers of fresh packaged bakery foods in the United States with 2017 sales of $3.9 billion. Among the company's top brands are Nature's Own, Wonder, Dave's Killer Bread and Tastykake.