Private Equity Firm Buys Illinois' Labriola Baking Co.

Labriola Baking Co. has been sold to a Plaza Belmont Fund, a Shawnee, Kan.-based private equity firm.

The Alsip-based wholesale bakery was founded by Rich Labriola in 1993. Its fresh and frozen breads are sold to hotels, restaurants and grocers from Wisconsin to Indianapolis. The bakery's frozen pretzel breads, however, are available nationally.

The Labriola Bakery Cafe in Oak Brook was not part of the transaction and may have been an impetus for the sale.

"The rationale for the sale was to create a partnership that not only brings additional financial resources to Labriola, but extensive industry expertise as well," Labriola said in a statement. "It also helps me free up resources to allow me to continue to grow and expand the Labriola Bakery Cafes beyond the current single store location."

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