Europastry buys North American Highland Baking Company

BarcelonaEuropastry expands its reach to the United States with a new acquisition in the country. The manufacturer of frozen dough for bread and pastries has closed the purchase of Highland Baking Company, a family-owned company in the sector based in Illinois specializing in high-quality bread for the horeca segment. According to a statement, the operation will lead the Catalan company to exceed 2 billion euros in turnover; a substantial increase compared to the figures for 2025, when it earned approximately 1.63 billion earned approximately 1.63 billion. Highland's was a purchase that the market had been following for months, and it has finally been closed in favor of the Catalan company. Figures on the scope of the operation have not been disclosed.

With the new acquisition, Europastry consolidates itself in the "foodservice" channel —food products served in bars, restaurants, and other commercial establishments— in the United States, the line in which Highland specializes. The North American market, as recalled by the Gallés family company, is "one of the most dynamic and relevant markets in the bread sector." In fact, it is the second largest market by turnover volume for the Sant Cugat-based company, surpassed only by the Spanish market.

Highland Baking Company has several production centers in the United States for its product portfolio, located in Northbrook, Illinois, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. This adds new production capacity to Europastry's operation in the country, which began in 2012 when it entered the capital of the bakery Wenner Bakery. The Catalan company completed the acquisition of the American company in 2018. In this regard, the food company fully integrates the purchase of Highland into "the strategy of acquiring, investing in, and growing emblematic companies" in its key markets. In mid-2025, the multinational also announced the acquisition of the Thai frozen bakery firm Art of Baking.

A "historic merger"

With the new acquisition, Europastry "is driving an ambitious investment plan in the US focused on increasing production capacities and developing new product categories". In a statement, the company indicates that the alignment with Highland Bakery "reinforces us as one of the main global players in the bread sector"; especially through growth in the United States market. Beyond the synergy between the Catalan and North American companies, "favorable consumer trends" are also highlighted, which will provide a "more solid" business foundation.

According to the executive president of Europastry, Jordi Gallés, the operation with Highland is "much more than an acquisition". For the executive, the two companies "share values, a long-term vision, and the same business focus". It is, in the executive's words, the "ideal alliance to accelerate in the North American market".

For his part, Stuart Rosen, executive director and representative of Highland's founding family, considers Europastry "the perfect partner to take the next step in the development" of the company. "This is a historic merger that offers exceptional structural and strategic compatibility," he stated in a press release.