Warren-based specialty food distributor Lipari Foods has closed on its acquisition of Tut’s International, a Middle Eastern and Eastern European food business in Dearborn. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The news was first reported on the grocery and supermarket industry website The Shelby Report.
The acquisition expands Lipari’s product breadth in its international specialty food division that started after it acquired Dearborn-based Jerusalem Foods in 2018. Tut’s International brands include Dobrova, Shahia, and Lebanon Valley.
“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.,” says 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.”
John Shenouda, president and owner of Tut’s, says, “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.”
Lipari Foods was founded in 1963 by Jim Lipari, who began his career by delivering 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 bakery, dairy, deli, packaging, seafood, meat, grocery, foodservice, confectionery, and convenience food and beverage products to more than 7,000 customers in 16 states.
Tut’s International is one of the oldest importers of Middle Eastern and Eastern European Foods in North America. For nearly 50 years, it has been importing more than 4,000 items from approximately 80 countries.
