Thomasville, Georgia-based Flowers Foods Inc. Has acquired Papa Pita Bakery, a manufacturer and distributor of bagels, tortillas, breads, buns, English muffins and flat breads headquartered in West Jordan. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.
Founded in 1983, Papa Pita operates a 270,000-square-foot facility in West Jordan. The company’s primary brands include Papa Pita, Great Grains, Bubba’s Bagels and Maya’s Tortillas. In addition, the company has a significant co-manufacturing business as well as direct-to-store distribution in the western U.S.
“Our success has been a direct result of the dedication of our hard-working team members, their ability to think big about what’s possible and a constant focus on how we can grow,” said Farzad Mohebbi, president and CEO of Papa Pita. “Flowers shares these same traits, making our partnership a great fit.”
“Papa Pita began as a family business and is an inspiring example of the American dream. Its leaders have grown the company strategically through product and category expansions,” said Ryals McMullian, president and CEO of Flowers Foods. “Additionally, its focus on exceptional product quality and operational excellence aligns strongly with the Flowers culture. Papa Pita has been an important co-manufacturer of Flowers products for many years, and I’m thrilled about the opportunity to realize manufacturing and distribution synergies, in addition to expanding our geographic reach and welcoming the passionate Papa Pita team to Flowers.”
Flowers Foods is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, with 2021 sales of $4.3 billion. It operates bakeries across the country that produce a wide range of bakery products, including brands Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse and Tastykake.