Earthgrains' Refrigerated Dough Producer Acquires Chevalier Servant of France

The Earthgrains Company, which owns French-based Europate, S.A.S., has acquired the assets of Societe De Concept en Produits Agro-Alimentaires, S.A., which owns French refrigerated- and frozen-dough producer Chevalier Servant, S.A.

Europate and Chevalier Servant will be operated as divisions of Earthgrains' new French-based holding company, EuroDough, S.A.R.L. The acquisition adds frozen- and rolled-dough capacity and improves Earthgrains' capability and flexibility to serve retailers, contract customers and consumers in Europe.

Chevalier Servant, which produces store-brand dough products, has two rolled-dough plants, in Valence, south of Lyon, and in Vittel, southeast of Nancy, and also has a frozen-dough plant under construction in Vittel.

With the acquisition, Earthgrains will operate four dough plants in Europe. Europate, which makes rolled dough and is the only producer of canned dough in Europe, operates one plant, in Lievin, France. Europate's canned- and rolled-dough products are sold throughout Europe, primarily through contract-packing arrangements with major international food companies. In France, Europate also sells rolled and canned dough under its CroustiPate and HappyRoll brands.

Earthgrains also announced the appointment of Richard Witherspoon as president and director general of EuroDough and CEO of Europate.

Witherspoon, who previously served as Earthgrains Refrigerated Dough Products executive vice president for business development, has more than 25 years' experience in packaged-food manufacturing, sales and marketing.

Earthgrains operates fresh-bakery and refrigerated-dough businesses in the United States and Europe. The company has 44 U.S. bakeries and two refrigerated-dough plants. Internationally, Earthgrains operates 11 production facilities in Europe.