New French Bakery Facilities Close in Minneapolis
Owners of food businesses should assess their supply chains as FGF Brands closes two production sites, eliminating 166 jobs.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Rise Baking Company is closing two New French Bakery production facilities in Minneapolis following the brand's sale to FGF Brands. The consolidation will result in 166 job losses starting at the end of December.
Why it matters
The closure follows a recent ownership transition and reflects ongoing integration efforts within the regional baking industry after a series of high-profile acquisitions.
The closure eliminates 166 positions at the New French Bakery facilities on Kasota Avenue and 26th Avenue S. This transition follows Rise Baking Company's sale of the brand in September 2026, two years after the company itself was purchased for a potential $2.5 billion.
The players
Rise Baking Company
A Minnesota-based bakery manufacturer recently acquired by private equity firms.
FGF Brands
A Toronto-based commercial bakery operator and the current owner of New French Bakery.
The details
FGF Brands acquired the New French Bakery brand from Minnesota-based Rise Baking Company in September 2026. The move involves shuttering production at two specific Minneapolis locations, with local management notifying state officials of the headcount reduction. Layoffs are slated to begin December 29, 2026, as the new owner adjusts its regional manufacturing footprint.
Timeline
September 2026: Rise Baking Company sold the New French Bakery brand.
December 29, 2026: Facility layoffs are scheduled to begin.
Market Landscape
The closures follow the pattern of consolidation established by the 2024 acquisition of Rise Baking Company by Platinum Equity and Butterfly. These site reductions reflect the typical integration phase that follows major private equity-led buyouts in the food manufacturing sector.
Local operators should watch for potential shifts in wholesale supply availability as manufacturing capacity is consolidated by the new ownership. Managers should evaluate existing bakery vendor contracts to ensure service continuity through the upcoming year-end transition period.
The takeaway
Large-scale acquisitions often trigger rapid facility rationalization as new owners seek to optimize their production footprints. Operators should track local employment notifications and facility status reports as early signals of significant supply chain adjustments.
What happens next
Facility layoffs are scheduled to commence on December 29, 2026.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit our Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Star Tribune.
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