Puratos in Chicago and Dawn Foods in Jackson today announced the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Puratos intends to acquire Dawn Foods, subject to all customary regulatory approvals.
The transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.
Puratos and Dawn Food, founded in 1919 and 1920, respectively, both serve professional bakers, pastry chefs, retailers, and food manufacturers.
Dawn Foods, with operations across North America, Europe, AMEAP, and Latin America, produces sweet baked goods and ingredient solutions, including donuts, muffins, cookies, and brownies.
Its innovation model is driven by the creation of product concepts, seasonal inspiration, and customer-ready solutions that enable bakeries to differentiate and optimize their assortment.
Puratos produces bakery, patisserie, and chocolate, including fermentation, sourdough, grains and seeds, patisserie classics, and chocolate offerings. Its innovation approach consists of ingredient technology and long-term R&D, translating food science into differentiated ingredient solutions.
Puratos serves customers through a global network of local subsidiaries active in 87 countries.
Under the proposed deal, Dawn Foods’ large-scale, standardized manufacturing will be combined with Puratos’ more flexible and tailored production. It also would connect Dawn Food’s North American distribution footprint with Puratos’ broad international subsidiary network.
The combined capabilities would allow Puratos to better serve customers whose needs increasingly span both efficient mainstream production and more technology-driven solutions, across a wider range of bakery and sweet goods applications, than either Puratos or Dawn Foods can do alone.
“This agreement reflects a major long-term step for Puratos,” says Pierre Tossut, CEO of Puratos. “Dawn Foods is a highly respected company with capabilities that complement our own. The agreement shows our ambition to further expand our footprint and capabilities within a space we know well, understand deeply, and have successfully developed over generations.”
Carrie Jones-Barber, CEO Dawn Foods, says, “Dawn has grown into a global business by staying focused on what matters most — our people, our products, and the customers we serve. As we looked to the future, it was important to find a partner aligned with our values and our long-term view of the business. Like Dawn, Puratos is a family-owned company with a strong heritage and a deep commitment to people, quality, and the baking industry.”
Until the transaction is complete, Puratos and Dawn Foods remain fully independent companies and will continue to operate separately. There are no changes to day-to-day operations, customer relationships, or commercial arrangements.
J.P. Morgan is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Allen Overy Shearman Sterling is acting as legal counsel to Puratos.
BMO Capital Markets is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Winston & Strawn is acting as legal counsel to Dawn Foods.
Puratos appointed KBC Bank NV, ING Belgium SA/NV, and Bank of America as joint Underwriters and Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers (BMLA) for the financing of this acquisition.
Dawn Foods partners with more than 50,000 artisanal and retail bakers, food service leaders, and manufacturers located in more than 100 countries and has nearly 4,000 employees globally.
For more information, visit dawnfoods.com or puratos.com.
