Manitowoc, Wis. (April 6, 2018) — Lakeside Foods, Inc. today announced that it has acquired Riverside Foods, an innovator in frozen appetizers and seafood. As part of the agreement, Riverside Foods will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Lakeside Foods. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Riverside, based in Two Rivers, WI, is a producer of cheese appetizers, specialty frozen vegetable and seafood products for the foodservice/restaurant industry under the brand names of Kettle Brau™ (beer battered products), Trivers’™ (cheese curds and cookies), Super Samplers™ (combo fried mushrooms, onion rings and cheese curds), Smokehouse™ (smoke-flavored products) and Riverside (frozen fish and seafood). A growing force as a supplier to the foodservice industry, Riverside sells to distributors throughout the Midwest as well as directly to select major national restaurant chains.
“Riverside expands the breadth of high-quality innovative products we offer the customers we serve including in the growing category of cheese products,” said Glen Tellock, President and CEO, Lakeside Foods. “Its specialty foods diversify our business into markets adjacent to our frozen and canned private-label vegetables and bring new market opportunities, innovation and balance to our business. Both company’s deep relationships with restaurant chains will also drive additional top-line expansion, while the geographic proximity of both businesses in Northeast Wisconsin will create immediate supply chain synergies. As people seek more prepared meal options, consumers enjoy Riverside products for their quality and flavor. Everyone at Lakeside welcomes the more than 100 dedicated people of Riverside to the Lakeside family.”
Mark Kornely, President and co-owner of Riverside stated, “This strategic alignment will allow us to immediately enhance our manufacturing expertise and growth capabilities, with Lakeside’s production capacity, supply chain and shipping network. I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue to grow Riverside with another local, family-owned business that values the high levels of quality and service on which we’ve built our business over more than 50 years. We will continue to support the City of Two Rivers and the surrounding communities, with current production remaining unchanged and plans for future growth at our present location. In getting to know Lakeside, I believe this combination is a complementary fit in many ways.”
Riverside is co-owned by Mark Kornely, Mike Yauger, and Paul Becker, all of whom will remain with the business.
About Lakeside
Lakeside Foods is recognized as a premier supplier of high-quality frozen and canned vegetables to the retail, foodservice and industrial sectors. As a result of hard work, 14 countries enjoy the quality and reliability of Lakeside’s years of experience. Over more than 130 years, the company has grown from one small pea-canning facility to a ten-plant operation, producing everything from canned and frozen vegetables to frozen meal solutions. Our commitment to quality, our customers and our family of multiple generations of farmers remains as strong as ever and will guide us into the future.
About Riverside
Riverside Foods is a third-generation family-owned food manufacturing business established in 1961. The more than 100 employees at Riverside take personal pride in everything they do, from developing first-class appetizers and seafood to providing extraordinary customer service. For more than 50 years the company’s mission has been to efficiently manufacture and market the highest quality products which lead the industry in customer satisfaction. At Riverside Foods, we are always looking to improve and to exceed customer expectations.