The cookie business is a big industry, and getting bigger all the time. What is unusual about the cookie industry, is that these days there are a lot of smaller cookie enterprises that have managed to successfully break into the market.
We all have our favorite brands of cookies, big and small. Personally I’m a big fan of Tate’s, which started of as a mom ‘n pop cookie maker before exploding onto the cookie scene. Just yesterday, my buddy was professing his love for Entenmann’s which is a cookie that I loved when I was younger.
If you’re from Buffalo, chances are that you are familiar with Rich Products, a privately held Fortune 500 company based on the city’s West Side. Although Rich’s got its start selling non-dairy whipped topping (made with soybean oil), the company has been expanding its lines ever since. When I was younger, I worked in the company’s plant (think Laverne and Shirley), where I was on the production line day in and day out (hairnet and all). Back then, the creamers, the whipped toppings, and other non-dairy delights were the crux of the business, or so it appeared.
These days Rich’s’ assortment of foods is much more varied. In fact, Rich’s sells over 2,000 products in 100 countries, which means that the corporation is always on the hunt for new acquisitions. To that end, Rich’s recently purchased Christie Cookie Company, based in Nashville, TN. Christie Cookie is a privately-owned maker of gourmet cookies that has been in the business for over 35 years.
“The acquisition of Christie Cookie Company furthers our position as a premier supplier in the growing cookie category,” said Ray Burke, President of Rich’s U.S.-Canada business. “Adding the iconic and beloved Christie brand of products to our portfolio is something we’re very excited about as we move forward.”
Rich’s’ annual sales exceed $4 billion.
Christie employs 100 associates, and produces approximately 100 million cookies per year. Aside from its manufacturing operation, the company owns two retail bakery shops in Nashville, with an additional location in Bridgestone Arena.
“The acquisition of Christie Cookie Company furthers our position as a premier supplier in the growing cookie category,” said Ray Burke, President of Rich’s U.S.-Canada business. “Adding the iconic and beloved Christie brand of products to our portfolio is something we’re very excited about as we move forward.”
“As a private, customer-centric company that values the long-standing relationships we have with our customers, Rich’s was a natural fit to help take our business to the next level,” said Fleming Wilt, President of Christie Cookie Co. “In Rich’s, we have a partner with a 75-year track record of success, one that’s dedicated to ongoing innovation and growth and a company that not only values quality, but culture, too. We’re proud to join the Rich family of associates.”