HC Private Investments Launches Artisan Bakery With the Acquisitions of Snackwerks and Specialty Bakers

Industry Veterans Liz Barnett, Jeff Grogg, Purav Patel and Kirk Trofholz Join Company’s Board of Directors

HC Private Investments (“HCPI”), a Chicago-based family office, today announced the formation of Artisan Bakery (the “Company”), a premium baked goods and snack manufacturer, through the acquisitions of Snackwerks and Specialty Bakers. With a combined heritage dating back to 1901 and a national manufacturing footprint, Artisan Bakery is uniquely positioned to deliver premium, indulgent bakery products across retail and co-manufacturing channels. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As part of the transaction, industry veterans Liz Barnett, Jeff Grogg, Purav Patel and Kirk Trofholz — each bringing decades of experience in bakery operations, food innovation, and CPG growth strategy — will join the Company’s Board of Directors. Kirk Trofholz, former CEO of Nielsen-Massey and President of Dawn Foods, will serve as Executive Chairman, bringing deep category expertise and operational leadership to Artisan Bakery. Additionally, Jeff Grogg, previous owner of Snackwerks, will remain a significant equity owner.

Headquartered in Marysville, PA, Specialty Bakers is the market leader with several in-store bakery products. Jack Eckerd, who has been with Specialty Bakers since 2000, will continue to serve as CEO for the combined Company.

Headquartered in Battle Creek, MI, Snackwerks is a trusted co-manufacturer for established and fast-growing brands, driven by its advanced R&D and production capabilities. Snackwerks’ product portfolio spans cookies, granola, and snack bars, with the capability to produce a wide variety of other items as well.

“I am excited to partner with HCPI and Kirk Trofholz to build a bakery platform that emphasizes speed-to-market, innovation, and customer collaboration,” said Jeff Grogg. “Snackwerks’ agile manufacturing and Specialty Bakers’ established distribution create the ideal combination to serve both emerging and established brands in a way traditional bakeries cannot.”

“Our vision is to preserve the craft and quality of each bakery while providing the operational scale, R&D support, and strategic leadership needed to thrive in a fast-evolving food landscape. As grocery retailers continue to prioritize prepared foods to attract and increase foot traffic, we believe we are well positioned to offer in-store bakery customers a differentiated model to create leading indulgences with the highest quality ingredients and flexible packaging options serving both family and individual formats,” said Kirk Trofholz, Executive Chairman.

“We are excited to partner with experienced operators and advisors to build a differentiated bakery business,” said HCPI Managing Partners John Kelly and Matt Moran. “Together, we will help our portfolio companies scale, innovate, and deliver superior products that meet today’s evolving consumer demands.”

Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel to HCPI while Signature Bank of Chicago and Ironwood Capital provided debt financing for the transaction. Brown Gibbons Lang & Company acted as financial advisors to Specialty Bakers.

ABOUT HC PRIVATE INVESTMENTS

HC Private Investments is a private equity investment firm focused on making investments in manufacturing businesses within the consumer and industrial markets. With a focus on being the first institutional investor in a business, HCPI seeks to partner with business owners, executives, and management teams to identify opportunities to remove impediments to growth, enabling companies to maximize their full value potential. For more information, please visit www.hcprivateinvest.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250619351524/en/

HC Private Investments launches Artisan Bakery, uniting Snackwerks and Specialty Bakers to create a premium bakery platform led by industry veterans.