|  Code
Hennessy & Simmons LLC (“CHS”) today announced
that Otis Spunkmeyer, Inc. (“Otis Spunkmeyer”),
a portfolio investment of Code Hennessy & Simmons IV LP,
acquired Merkel McDonald, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor
of frozen cookie products doing business as “Chippery.”
Founded in 1984 as a retail cookie chain, Chippery now manufacturers
frozen cookie dough and thaw-and-serve cookies in a single
97,000 square foot facility in Austin, Texas. Chippery serves
national and regional restaurant chains, hotel chains, stadium
and sports arenas, schools and other large scale institutions.
Chippery is one of the largest suppliers of frozen cookie
dough to fundraising groups including schools, civic organizations,
clubs and churches.
 Otis
Spunkmeyer is a leading North American manufacturer, marketer
and distributor of frozen cookie dough, pre-baked muffins
and other hand held sweet baked goods to foodservice accounts
and food retailers. Since 1994, Otis Spunkmeyer has held the
#1 market share in frozen cookie dough and the #2 market share
in branded pre-baked muffins in the foodservice channel. Through
broadline distribution and its own unique, nationwide direct-store-delivery
distribution system, Otis Spunkmeyer annually distributes
more than 150 million pounds of frozen cookie dough and muffins
to over 120,000 customers across North America.
John
Schiavo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Otis Spunkmeyer,
said, “Driven by the commitment of its founding partners
and highly talented employees, Chippery has been a fast growing
and respected competitor of Otis Spunkmeyer for several years.
Together, we will market high quality branded and private
label products to our core foodservice and retail markets
and operate more efficiently through the integration of certain
processes.” Combined, the companies generate revenues
of approximately $425 million.
For
more information on Otis Spunkmeyer, please visit the company's
Web site at www.spunkmeyer.com.
For
more information on Chippery, please visit the company’s
Web site at www.thechippery.com.
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