COLLEGEDALE, Tenn., and VERNON HILLS, Ill. — Snack food and granola manufacturer McKee Foods has acquired baked-goods producer Prairie City Bakery for an undisclosed amount.
McKee Foods will retain all Prairie City Bakery employees and offices, while Prairie City Bakery will keep its brand name and existing distribution channels.
“We sought to acquire Prairie City Bakery because they built a great brand with quality, innovative products that satisfy specific retail customer needs,” said Mike McKee, president and CEO of McKee Foods. “We want to continue that success by following the same great strategy with the same great management team. We are excited to continue building on this success. We welcome Prairie City Bakery to the McKee Foods family of brands.”
Collegedale, Tenn.-based McKee Foods was founded in the 1920s by O.D. McKee, who began selling 5-cent snack cakes from the back of his car. Today, the family-owned company employs more than 6,200 people in Collegedale; Gentry, Ark.; Stuarts Draft, Va.; and Kingman, Ariz. With annual sales of about $1.4 billion, the company’s products include Little Debbie snack cakes, Drake’s cakes, Sunbelt Bakery snacks and cereals and Fieldstone Bakery food products.
“I believe Prairie City Bakery is a perfect fit for McKee Foods,” said Bill Skeens, co-founder of Prairie City Bakery. “They share the same values regarding their commitment to quality products, serving their customers and supporting all the good people who support and work for McKee Foods.”
Founded in 1994, Prairie City Bakery, Vernon Hills, Ill., provides fully baked, thaw-and-sell bakery solutions to the convenience store, foodservice and in-store bakery channels nationwide. The company offers more than 125 products, including Big Cinnamon Rolls, Down Home Cookies, Donut Holes in a Cup and Ooey Gooey Butter Cakes.
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