TruFood Manufacturing adds another confectioner to its business

TruFood Manufacturing has swooped up and will integrate a fellow nutritional bar and confectionary company — Simply Natural Foods.

Pittsburgh-based TruFood produces private label and branded protein bars, chocolate moulded products and baked goods out of its 400,000 sq. ft. facility. By adding in Simply Natural Foods, the company specifically will expand its position in the nutritional bar and better-for-you chocolate moulded snacking segment. Simply Foods also produces private label, expanding that portion of the business.

Based in Commack, N.Y., Simply Foods will now operate as TruFood and will be helmed by Ted Shouten, president of TruFood, and Pete Tsudis, TruFood CEO. Abe Brach, president and CEO of Simply Natural Foods will depart in weeks ahead to pursue other business endeavors.

“This transaction represents a significant and exciting milestone for our company,” said Schouten. “Simply Natural Foods has been a leader in the nutrition bar and confectionery manufacturing industry with a solid reputation for high-quality standards, continuous innovation, excellent management, and great tasting products. We are excited to add the SNF team to our family and look forward to working together on advancing our shared growth plan with a focus on providing customers with a broad range of snack brands and products.”

Simply Natural Foods employs 200 people and was established in 1992. TruFood Manufacturing is backed by AUA Private Equity Partners, New York.

“The combination of TruFood and Simply Natural Foods allows us to leverage the success Simply Natural Foods has established in the better-for-you snacking segment and enables us to serve a larger customer base with a broader range of product offerings,” said Tsudis. “We are thrilled about the meaningful value-added opportunities that this acquisition will provide for our employees, customers and other strategic partners.”