Dessert Holdings Acquires Willamette Valley Pie Co.

Acquisition Expands Dessert Holdings’ Scratch-Made, Clean Label, Premium Dessert Portfolio

ST. PAUL, Minn. & SALEM, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dessert Holdings^®, North America’s premium dessert company, today announced that it has acquired Willamette Valley Pie Company^®. (“Willamette” or the “Company”), a manufacturer of high-quality, premium pie and dessert products. The acquisition complements Dessert Holdings’ existing platform of scratch-made, premium dessert brands serving retail and foodservice customers. Willamette will continue to operate under its current management team led by President Austin Kelly. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 2001 on the Roth family farm in Oregon’s bountiful Willamette Valley region, Willamette is renowned by consumers and retailers for its highly customizable, hand-crafted fruit pies, cobblers, and dessert products that use high quality, natural ingredients, including farm-fresh fruit, locally sourced dairy, and a 100% real butter flakey crust. Willamette works closely with independent, artisanal growers to source quality produce at peak flavor. Willamette’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients, strong philanthropic ties, and premium products, including Dutch Caramel Apple Pie, Cherry Crunch Pie, Oregon Berry Pie, Peach Cobblers, and handheld pies, have earned the Company repeated recognition as supplier of the year at leading national retailers.

“Willamette’s assortment of clean label, homemade real fruit pies and desserts is highly complementary to our existing portfolio of premium desserts,” said Paul Lapadat, Chief Executive Officer of Dessert Holdings. “Willamette holds a distinctive market position, having garnered a deeply loyal following, forged key connections with local growers and suppliers, and established long-standing relationships with leading retailers. We see an incredible opportunity to support the Company’s growth, bolster its retail relationships, and drive expansion of its beloved products.”

“For more than 20 years, Willamette has been more than a dessert company—we’ve been a part of family tables, celebrations, and everyday moments of joy,” said Kelly. “We’re incredibly proud of our heritage and how far we’ve come—growing into a trusted, distinctive partner for leading retailers nationwide. Joining the Dessert Holdings platform is an exciting new chapter, and we believe they share our passion and values to help us grow while staying true to who we are.”

RSM served as accounting advisor and Fredrikson & Byron P.A. served as legal advisor to Dessert Holdings. Whipstitch Capital served as financial advisor and Davis Wright Tremaine as legal advisor to Willamette Valley Pie Co.

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is North America’s leading premium dessert company, providing scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary artistry, real ingredients, and operational excellence. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Dessert Holdings has a rich heritage from seven distinctive brands and unmatched premium dessert capabilities for its Retail and Foodservice partners. The company’s portfolio has evolved to satisfy consumers’ dessert preferences and customers around the world. Dessert Holdings’ brands include Steven Charles^®, The Original Cakerie^®, Lawler’s Desserts^®, Atlanta Cheesecake Company^®, Dianne’s Fine Desserts^®, Kenny’s Great Pies^®, and Willamette Valley Pie Company.

About Willamette Valley Pie Company

Willamette Valley Pie Company, LLC is one of the original all-natural, hand-crafted pie companies. Headquartered in Silverton, Oregon, Willamette has nearly 100 years of family farming history with a deep expertise and passion for farm-fresh fruit. The company partners with leading national retailers to deliver premium pies and desserts while incorporating farm-fresh ingredients you would use at home. Willamette Valley Pie Co. continues to be committed to bringing families and communities together around the table and through their fundraising program. For more information about Willamette Valley Pie Co., visit www.wvpie.com, or @wvpie on Instagram and @WVPIECO on Facebook.