On Dec. 31, Lipari Foods, a specialty food distributor based in Warren, Michigan, closed on the acquisition of the Middle Eastern and Eastern European food business of Tut’s International that includes brands such as Dobrova, Shahia and Lebanon Valley. Tut’s International is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.
This opportunity expands Lipari’s product breadth in its international specialty food division that was developed after acquiring Dearborn-based Jerusalem Foods in 2018.
“Lipari’s strategic position has always been to be one of the premier “perimeter of the store and specialty grocery distributors in the U.S,” said Thom Lipari, CEO of Lipari Foods. “We are looking forward to continuing to grow our international specialty division and overall product offerings. Tut’s International is a trusted leader in the Middle Eastern and Eastern European market, and adding their expertise to all that Lipari provides means greater opportunities for our already diverse customer base.”
“I am excited and proud of this new transition for our team. Lipari Foods is an extremely respected and capable company that will take our company and legacy to new levels. Our strengths, coupled with Lipari’s strengths, will solidify into one of the greatest alliances of our industry. I look forward to seeing the growth and development of our business as we work together to capture and create opportunities throughout the country. It is my pleasure to make this happen with one of the greatest and most reputable families in the industry,” says John Shenouda, president and owner of Tut’s.
“Since the creation of the international specialty division in 2018, we have worked to bring in only the best brands and partners to Lipari’s extensive customer base. I look forward to adding Tut’s capabilities and experience in Middle Eastern and Eastern European food to Lipari Foods,” said Ron Batshon, VP of international specialty at Lipari Foods.
Lipari Foods was founded in 1963 by Jim Lipari, who began his career by delivering unique products from the back of his Buick station wagon. Today, Lipari Foods is a leading independent “perimeter of the store” distributor in the Midwest, delivering a wide range of quality bakery, dairy, deli, packaging, seafood, meat, grocery, foodservice, confectionery and convenience food and beverage products to over 7,000 customers across 16 states.
Tut’s International is regarded as one of the oldest and most reputable importers of quality Middle Eastern and Eastern European Foods in North America. For nearly 50 years, Tut’s has been importing more than 4,000 items from approximately 80 countries. Servicing everything from national supermarket chains to ethnic grocery retailers and everything in between, Tut’s has been on the leading edge of market development and modern mass market development in the food industry.
