C.H. Guenther & Son LLC, a commercial baking and food manufacturer with a 175-year heritage, has acquired House-Autry Mills Inc., a manufacturer of branded and custom dry mix flavor solutions for foodservice, retail and private label customers.
Founded in North Carolina in 1812 and family-owned, House-Autry provides a wide portfolio of branded products, including breaders, batters, hushpuppy mixes, pancake and waffle mixes, biscuit mixes, cornbread mixes, gravy mixes, seasonings, marinades and grits, as well as custom formulation capabilities and flavor development.
With specialized manufacturing operations in North Carolina and Georgia, the company has invested in flexible blending, packaging and R&D to drive menu differentiation and create signature flavors that capitalize on consumer demand trends.
Complementary portfolios
House-Autry’s products and large-scale manufacturing and culinary innovation capabilities are highly complementary with CHG’s portfolio, the company said.
CHG supplies value-added grain-based and frozen food products to foodservice clients and select consumer markets, and its retail brands include Pioneer, White Wings, Sun-Bird, Mi Rancho and Cuisine Adventures.
With the House-Autry acquisition, CHG expands its reach into priority markets and strengthens its position in ingredients delivering authentic Southern flavor. By bringing together CHG’s scale, manufacturing and logistics infrastructure with House-Autry’s custom dry mix platform, the combined company will be better positioned to support customer innovation, menu differentiation and long-term growth.
“House-Autry is an outstanding strategic fit for CHG,” said Rod Hepponstall, president and CEO of CHG. “The company brings a rare combination of deep heritage, trusted customer relationships, strong custom formulation capabilities and a reputation for quality and service. Together, we will be even better positioned to reach more customers and help them create custom products and memorable food experiences, while driving long-term financial growth.”
“We are excited to join the C.H. Guenther family and begin this next chapter for House-Autry,” said Derrick Marconi, president and CFO of House-Autry. “CHG deeply respects our family legacy and commitment to quality, service, innovation and care for customers and employees. This combination creates new opportunities to invest in our capabilities and expand our reach while continuing to deliver the Southern-crafted flavor and partnership our customers have trusted for generations.”
Headquartered in Four Oaks, North Carolina, House-Autry was advised on the transaction by Westerra Capital.
Founded in Texas in 1851, San Antonio, Texas-headquartered CHG employs more than 5,000 people at 30 manufacturing locations in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. CHG is owned by PPC along with management and other co-investors.
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