WEST DES MOINES, IA — Midwest Growth Partners, a private equity firm specializing in succession planning and growth capital investments in food and agriculture, announced the merger of Sparks, NV-based French Gourmet and Garner, IA-based ShellsbyDesign.
French Gourmet manufactures artisanal croissants, Danish pastries, dough shells and puff pastries, serving an assortment of foodservice businesses, including hotels, cafes, and independent and in-store bakeries.
“French Gourmet’s extensive product offerings and market reach will enable us to execute on the vision I’ve had for our company since co-founding the business 15 years ago,” said David Lichtenstein, co-founder of ShellsbyDesign. “We look forward to joining forces with the French Gourmet team to support our combined customers’ success with enhanced premium product offerings.”
As part of the merger, Lichtenstein will continue to serve as director of operations at the Iowa facility.