QualiTech has acquired Ellison Bakery, an Indiana-based producer of bakery ingredients, cookies, snack bars, and others, with an aim to build a scalable sensory ingredients platform.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ellison Bakery, based in Fort Wayne, manufactures a variety of bakery products, including mix-ins, frozen novelties, and snack inclusions.

The company serves established and emerging brands in retail, food service, and private label markets. This acquisition supports QualiTech’s strategy to broaden its product range and enhance its ingredient solutions, following a 2023 investment by MidOcean Partners, a New York-based alternative asset manager.

MidOcean Partners stated that it had identified Ellison Bakery, a portfolio company of Tilia Holdings, as a prime acquisition target due to its complementary product line.

Tilia, a private investment firm specialising in business-to-business services within the food supply chain, acquired Ellison Bakery in August 2020.

Ellison Bakery, which was founded in 1945, provides custom baked ingredients for retail, industrial, and foodservice sectors. Its product range includes baked inclusions, crunches, cookie components, and bars, used in applications such as active nutrition, frozen novelties, ice cream, yogurt, and beverages.

QualiTech CEO Rick Pedersen said: “Bringing Ellison into the QualiTech family will benefit both companies and our customers. Both have strong R&D, customer service, and product quality.

“Together, we will scale services, develop new products, and access a larger market. This acquisition strengthens QualiTech’s position in specialty ingredients and supports long-term growth.”

QualiTech, established in 1967 and based in Chaska, Minnesota, is a manufacturer of value-added ingredients. The company serves food, animal nutrition, and agronomy sectors with products designed for diverse taste, appearance, texture, and functionality needs.

QualiTech operates two manufacturing facilities and three land parcels in Chaska and has a co-manufacturing partner in California.

Ellison Bakery CEO Stephanie Chattillion said: “We are excited to join QualiTech and leverage MidOcean’s resources. QualiTech’s approach to customer service aligns with our own.

“We look forward to expanding our product offerings and building a leading platform in food inclusions and ingredients.”