US chocolate firm Arway Confections has entered into an agreement to acquire Long Grove Confectionery Co. of Illinois.

The agreement, for an undisclosed sum, includes the business and real estate of Long Grover. The company manufactures premium gourmet confectionery under brands including its signature Myrtles line.

Arway Confections, which supplies to retailers and distributors across the US, said it will play an “active” role in sales and product development. The combined entity will utilise both the existing 75,000sq ft Arway manufacturing facility in Chicago as well as the Long Grove facility in Buffalo Grove.

Craig Leva, Arway president and owner, said: “We are very excited about this acquisition, the tremendous opportunities, and the natural synergies there are by combining the operations of these two great storied Chicago-area companies.”