MBC Companies Acquires Alpha Foods
MBC Companies has acquired Alpha Foods, a family-owned frozen pizza manufacturer based in Walker, Texas.
According to MBC, the deal expands its manufacturing footprint, accelerates product development, and strengthens its ability to serve customers. MBC is a portfolio company of Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p), a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on investments in the food, beverage, and pet industries.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“The due diligence process was almost like looking in a mirror,” said Jeff Ahlers, CEO of MBC Companies. “Alpha and MBC share so much in common, from our strong family-focused culture to our commitment to quality, safety and customer service. Together, we will be well-positioned to deliver even greater value to our customers and create new opportunities for our employees.”
Alpha Foods was founded in 1984 by George and Athena Sarandos and has grown from a regional foodservice distributor into a respected national producer of frozen pizzas and pizza components. Alpha serves institutional and retail customers, including K-12 schools, national grocery chains, and leading consumer packaged goods brands across the country.
“My husband George was deeply committed to securing Alpha Foods' legacy and the futures of those who helped us build the company over the past 41 years,” said Athena Sarandos. “While many firms wanted to buy our company, the best path forward was to combine with a company that shares our values, understands our business, and protects what our people have built. I believe that with MBC, we have found a perfect match.”
The Alpha acquisition marks MBC’s second major investment in the pizza category, following its January 2025 acquisition of Nardone Brothers Baking. Together, these moves position MBC as a one-stop solution for frozen meals across all dayparts, from breakfast to lunch to late-night dining, serving the evolving needs of its customers, company officials said.
Headquartered in McDonald, Tennessee, MBC manufactures a wide range of frozen breakfast and lunch products for foodservice, K-12 schools, private label retail, convenience stores, and quick-service restaurants. The company operates three large-scale production facilities in Pennsylvania.
