J. M. Smucker inks $5.6B deal to buy Hostess Brands

The J. M. Smucker Co. has signed a US$5.6 billion deal to acquire Twinkies maker Hostess Brands, Inc.

The deal includes Hostess Brands’ baked goods labels – Hostess Donettes, Twinkies, CupCakes, DingDongs, Zingers, CoffeeCakes, HoHos, Mini Muffins and Fruit Pies – and the Voortman cookie brand. 

It also covers manufacturing facilities in Burlington, Ont.; Emporia, Kansas; Chicago; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas, as well as a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas. 

Some 3,000 employees will join the company as part of the transaction.

J. M. Smucker said Hostess Brands’ iconic brands complement its own products in the categories of coffee, peanut butter, frozen handheld, fruit spreads, dog snacks and cat food.

"With this acquisition, we are adding an iconic sweet snacking platform; enhancing our ability to deliver brands consumers love and convenient solutions they desire; and leveraging the attributes Hostess Brands offers, including its strong convenience store distribution and leading innovation pipeline, combined with our strong commercial organization and consistent retail execution across channels to drive continued growth,” said Mark Smucker, chair of the board, president and CEO, in a statement. 

Andy Callahan, president and CEO of Hostess Brands, adding that the deal represents “another exciting chapter” for the company. 

“We believe this is the right partnership to accelerate growth and create meaningful value for consumers, customers and shareholders. Our companies share highly complementary go-to market strategies, and we are very similar in our core business principles and operations. Above all else, Hostess Brands and The J.M. Smucker Co. share a deep commitment to inspiring moments of joy and satisfaction through our products, and we look forward to continuing to do so as part of The J.M. Smucker Co. family,” Callahan said.