Europastry buys the 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. As reported in a statement, the operation will lead the Catalan company to exceed 2,000 million euros in turnover; a substantial increase compared to the figures for 2025, when it earned about 1,630 million it earned around 1,630 million. The acquisition of Highland was one that the market had been following for months, and it has finally been closed in favor of the Catalan company. Figures regarding 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. North America, recall from the Gallés family company, is "one of the most dynamic and relevant markets in the bread sector." In fact, it is the second market by turnover volume for the Sant Cugat-based company, surpassed only by Spain.

Highland Baking Company has three production centers in the United States for its frozen dough: two in Northbrook, in the state of Illinois, and one more in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This adds new production capacity to Europastry's operation in the country, which began in 2013 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". Already at the beginning of 2026, the company's executive director, Jordi Gallés, had shown optimism regarding the immediate future of the sector in the North American country. As the executive explained in a presentation during the Alimentaria congress, 2025 "was a regular year for the horeca channel in the United States". Gallés, however, foresaw an acceleration for 2026, thanks to "the tax reductions from the American government, which will increase consumption in the coming months".

According to Gallés, the operation with Highland is "much more than an acquisition". For the executive president, the two companies "share values, a long-term vision, and the same business approach". 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 assured in a statement.