Legacy Bakehouse acquires Classic Cookie

Legacy Bakehouse, a Wisconsin-based contract and private label manufacturer of baked snacks, has acquired Classic Cookie. The acquisition expands Legacy’s product categories and geographic reach while adding a retail brand with national distribution.

Classic Cookie, a retail brand with national distribution, is known for its soft-baked, home-style cookies. Its individually wrapped packages made it a fit for vending, micro markets and pantry operations. Mannon Specialty Foods Inc., dba Classic Cookie, launched the baked goods brand in 1984.

Classic Cookie operates a 50,000 ft² commercial bakery in Sevierville, Tenn. The Sevierville location will serve as the third facility in Legacy’s production network.

Legacy Bakehouse is a 107-year old maker of baked snacks and snack components, including pita chips, tortillas, rye chips, garlic chips and bread sticks. It was acquired by Benford Capital Partners (BCP) in 2023.

This is the second bakery acquisition by Legacy Bakehouse in six months. It acquired the production site and assets of Angelic Bakehouse in July 2024.

What they are saying

Jon Mannon, CEO of Classic Cookie, said in a release, “While we are proud of what we’ve built over 41 years, we know that Classic Cookie is just scratching the surface of its future growth potential. By partnering with Legacy Bakehouse and Benford Capital Partners, Classic Cookie will have more resources than ever to continue our growth while maintaining our high product and service standards to our loyal and growing customer base.”

“Classic Cookie is a major step, expanding our baked snacks capabilities, capacity, markets and customers,” said Alain Vallet-Sandre, chief commercial officer at Legacy Bakehouse in a release. “Adding our contract manufacturing and private label capabilities to Classic Cookie’s strong sales channels, as well as expanding our salty/savory snacking platform to include sweet, rounds out our offerings, increasing Legacy’s attractiveness as a partner to a broader cross-section of customers.”

“Classic Cookie is a strategic acquisition in our evolving baking platform,” said Brian Behm, principal at Benford. “Classic Cookie’s primary channels, including national retail, vending, contract manufacturing, private label and fundraising are complementary to Legacy’s.”