C.H. Guenther & Son Inc., San Antonio, acquires Golden West Baking Co., Gizella Pastry Ltd. and Les Boulangeries Rene Inc. The two former companies are in Vancouver, B.C.; the latter is in Montreal. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Golden West and Les Boulangeries Rene produce buns, rolls and English muffins for the quick-serve, foodservice and retail grocery channels. Gizella Pastry produces frozen dessert items, such as cheesecakes, layer cakes, brownies and bars.

“Rene, his management team and employees have built an impressive array of businesses that service many of the same customers that we supply today, but with an expanded geographical reach into Canada,” says Dale W. Tremblay, president and CEO of CHG, of Rene Fluri, majority owner of the businesses. “The product capabilities are also very complimentary to both our European bakery business as well as our U.S. frozen dough and baked goods businesses.”

Says Fluri: “The sale of the business to C.H. Guenther & Son allows me to spend more time with family and enjoy some of the other important activities I have going on here in Vancouver and in Switzerland. CHG has a great 163+ year history servicing customers and consumers alike, and as with our Canadian businesses, has created a very family-oriented culture for all employees.”

With these acquisitions, Guenther will have nine production facilities in the U.S., three in Canada and three in Europe.

Source: C.H. Guenther & Son Inc., PR Newswire