US food group General Mills, the owner of the Pillsbury dough brand, is to acquire local pizza-crust business TNT Crust.

General Mills is buying Wisconsin-based TNT Crust from private-equity firm Peak Rock Capital, which has owned the business for almost four years.

TNT Crust manufactures frozen pizza crusts for regional and national pizza chains, foodservice distributors and retail outlets. Its net sales totalled approximately US$100m in 2021.

As part of the deal, General Mills will also gain two manufacturing facilities in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as well as one in St. Charles, Missouri.

Shawn O’Grady, group president of General Mills’ foodservice business in North America, said the deal “builds on our strong position in the fast-growing, away-from-home, frozen-baked-goods category.

“We have clear competitive advantages in foodservice with our strategic customer partnerships, best-in-class supply chain, and operator-first innovation capabilities. By adding the high-growth TNT Crust business to our frozen baked-goods platform, we are adding to our scale in a category that is on-trend with consumers and poised for continued rapid growth.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

In the nine months to 27 February, General Mills’ North American foodservice business generated net sales of $1.32bn, up 24% on a year earlier, helped by increased mobility and a re-opening of the sector compared to the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Segment operating profit increased 27% to $175m.

General Mills said that, on a two-year, compound-growth basis, relative to pre-pandemic levels, the division’s net sales were down 4%. On that basis, segment operating profit dropped 13%.

The purchase of TNT Crust is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of General Mills’ fiscal 2023 year.

TNT Crust was previously owned by US meat giant Tyson Foods before it was sold on to Peak Rock Capital in 2018.

Just Food has asked TNT Crust for its comment on the deal.