Baking supplier in Minnetonka bought by global industry giant

A Minnetonka-based baking manufacturer is being gobbled up by the world's largest bakery product supplier.

Best Brands, with six production facilities around the United States and a work force of nearly 1,600, has been bought by CSM, Bakery Supplies North America, the companies announced Thursday.

The transaction is subject to regulatory review and expected to be complete in March 2010.

Best Brands, in supplying the baking industry, offers among its products: laminated dough, cakes, muffins, fillings and mixes. Its customers include in-store and wholesale bakeries.

CSM produces and distributes an extensive range of bakery products and ingredients for artisan and industrial bakeries and for in-store as well as out-of-home markets. CSM operates in business-to-business markets throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia. It employs about 8,450 in 25 countries.