Dessert Holdings Acquires Willamette Valley Pie Company

Dessert Holdings announced Monday it has acquired Willamette Valley Pie Company, a premium private label and branded pie producer. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Based in Silverton, Ore., Willamette manufactures a range of fruit pies, cobblers and dessert products crafted with locally sourced fruit and dairy ingredients. The company will continue to operate under its current management team led by president Austin Kelly.

“Willamette Valley Pie Company has seen immense success to date,” Kelly said in a statement. “Joining forces with Dessert Holdings allows us to elevate our products, provide additional value to our customers, and leverage new resources to fuel even greater success in the evolving retail landscape.”

With its latest addition, St. Paul, Minn.-based Dessert Holdings brands owns seven brands serving retail and foodservice customers, including Steven Charles, The Original Cakerie, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Dianne’s Fine Desserts, Lawler’s Desserts and Kenny’s Great Pies.

“Willamette’s assortment of clean label, homemade real fruit pies and desserts is highly complementary to our existing portfolio of premium desserts,” said Paul Lapadat, CEO of Dessert Holdings, in a statement. “Willamette holds a distinctive market position, having garnered a deeply loyal following, forged key connections with local growers and suppliers, and established longstanding relationships with leading retailers.”

RSM served as accounting advisor and Fredrickson & Byron P.A. served as legal advisor to Dessert Holdings. Whipstitch Capital served as financial advisor and David Wright Tremain served as legal advisor to Willamette Valley Pie Company.