CHICAGO, IL – August 14, 2020  |  Tilia Holdings (“Tilia”), a Chicago-based private investment firm focused on business-to-business services for the food supply chain, completed its investment in Ellison Bakery, LLC (“Ellison” or the “Company”) on August 6, 2020. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ellison is a premier bakery solutions provider for the retail, food service, and private label end markets. Founded in 1945, the Company formulates, develops, and manufactures cookies, crunches, inclusions, bars, and other baked goods.

Stephanie Chattillion, Chief Executive Officer of Ellison, and the current executive management team will continue to lead Ellison’s operations. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Tilia in the next phase of Ellison’s growth and value creation,” comments Mrs. Chattillion. “Tilia’s extensive food experience, wealth of knowledge, and alignment of core values made them the clear choice to partner with Ellison.”

Eric Larson, Co-CEO of Tilia who will serve as Chairman of the Board, said, “We are excited to help build upon the legacy that began over seventy years ago when the Ellis family founded Ellison Bakery. Ellison has an excellent reputation with leading food brands that rely on the Company’s bakery solutions.” Johannes Burlin and JD Elder of Tilia have also joined the Board of Ellison.

Johannes Burlin added, “Ellison provides technical expertise and formulation capabilities across a broad portfolio of baked products and inclusions. We look forward to supporting the Company’s continued investment in its organization and service offerings to meet the needs of its growing set of customers.”

Mayer Brown LLP served as legal advisor to Tilia, and Comerica Bank and True West Capital Partners provided debt financing in support of the transaction.

ABOUT ELLISON BAKERY, LLC

Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana and founded in 1945, Ellison Bakery is a premier bakery solutions provider and manufacturer of cookies, crunches, inclusions, and bars for blue chip CPG brands, retailers, and food service.  Ellison has established itself as one of few providers that can offer industrial partners a customized solution, speed to market, and consistency of product allowing their partners to maximize production in their facilities with minimal downtime. For more information, please visit www.ebakery.com.

ABOUT TILIA HOLDINGS

Tilia is a Chicago-based private investment firm focused exclusively on making control investments in the evolving “farm-to-fork” segment of the global food supply chain. Tilia partners with growing, middle market companies who provide business services across the food supply chain and support leading, emerging and private-label CPG brands. The firm’s sector focused strategy is a successful approach to investments that spans three decades. Tilia believes its deep understanding of operations, its subject matter expertise in the food chain, and its disciplined approach to value creation uniquely position the firm to scale business services companies in the lower middle market. Through a value creation & governance model emphasizing stewardship, Tilia builds distinctive growth companies that enhance safety, nutrition & sustainability in the food supply chain.  For more information, please visit www.tiliallc.com.