LE MARS, Iowa — Wells Enterprises Inc., the maker of Blue Bunny ice cream, has signed a purchase agreement with Eden Creamery LLC, Los Angeles, to acquire its Halo Top ice cream brand.
The companies expect the sale to close within the month. They did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Customers can expect the same quality ice cream and frozen treats from Wells Enterprises and should expect no interruptions in service to find Halo Top treats, according to the company. Halo Top ice cream has280 to 360 calories per pint. The ice cream comes in dairy and dairy-free flavors such as Birthday Cake, Sea Salt Caramel and Rainbow Swirl.Halo Top products can be found at convenience and grocery stores throughout the country.
“Halo Top disrupted the ice cream category by providing a high-protein, low-sugar, low-calorie dessert that gave consumers a reason to purchase ice cream as a treat again,” said Mike Wells, president and CEO of Wells Enterprises. “Halo Top met a consumer need that no one else in the category was serving. We feel it is a good fit for the Wells portfolio as we look to broaden our offerings for consumers.”
Wells Enterprises has been making ice cream products for more than 100 years. The Le Mars, Iowa-based company produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year. Its brands also include Bomb Pop, Blue Ribbon Classics and Chilly Cow.
Wells Enterprises will leverage Halo Top’s brand equity and awareness to help it grow.
“As Halo Top continues to mature, Wells’ expertise in everything from operations to managing brands to making ice cream products for over a century will help Halo Top become an even better product and stronger brand,” said Justin Woolverton, founder and CEO of Halo Top. “On top of that, Wells simply does things the right way—something that has been at the forefront for us when looking at potential acquirers.”
Wells Enterprises also has agreed to license the Halo Top brand outside of the United States and Canada to a new company that Halo Top President and COO Doug Bouton plans to operate after closing.
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