Dawn Foods acquired Royal Steensma, a 185-year-old, family-owned bakery ingredients manufacturing company headquartered in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. The deal between Dawn Foods and Royal Steensma closed on January 31. With a broad portfolio of bakery products, Royal Steensma specializes in fat-based coatings (Souplesse), almond and confectionery pastes, bakery mixes, fruit fillings as well as infused and candied fruits and decorations.

The acquisition includes four manufacturing plants in The Netherlands, a manufacturing facility in Thailand, and continued involvement with the Food Innovation Academy (FIA) education center in The Netherlands, Dawn Foods announced. Additionally, all 130 “Royal Steensma employees are now valued team members of Dawn,” according to the release.

“We are proud to welcome the team from Royal Steensma to Dawn and to build on our shared bakery knowledge and history of providing incredible products to bakers all around the world,” said Dawn Foods’ Chief Executive Officer, Carrie Jones-Barber. “The expansion of our manufacturing capabilities and product portfolio further strengthens our mission to provide customers with bakery solutions that truly inspire and help them achieve their business goals.”

“Dawn’s century of bakery expertise, long-term vision, commitment to company values, and sincere dedication to team members, customers, and suppliers were the determining factors in entrusting Royal Steensma to Dawn Foods,” said Alfred Bruin, owner of Royal Steensma. “Additionally, Dawn has the same creative entrepreneurial spirit of a family-owned company, which gives me the confidence that the essence of the family business will be safeguarded, providing a promising future with numerous new opportunities for our loyal and valued employees and customers.”

Royal Steensma specializes in the production of high-quality ingredients and tasty semi-finished products for retail, bread-, pastry-, chocolate- and ice cream industries. The company produces products under the brand of Royal Steensma and private label. The production locations are based in Leeuwarden, Franeker, Elst and Vlaardingen (Netherlands) and one in Thailand for the processing of fruits for the candied products. Royal Steensma is one of the bigger players in the bakery industry in the Netherlands and is active nationally and internationally.

Photo: Royal Steensma social media (pictured: sweet cherry taco)