Horizon Milling LLC, West Wayzata, Minn., will be expanding its flour mill in Stockton, Calif., by adding additional equipment within the mill's existing footprint and increasing its wheat flour capacity from 11,000 cwt per day to 15,000 cwt per day. Expansion will begin in April with completion anticipated within three months. “We are expanding to fulfill increasing customer demand in the northern California area,” says Guy Shoemaker, president, Horizon Milling. “As our customers' businesses grow, we want to continue to grow with them and contribute to their success.”

The Food Equipment Group of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), Glenview, Ill., acquired The Peerless Group, including its Sidney, Ohio-based manufacturing facility. “When we began talking with ITW, it was very clear that its business focus was consistent with ours,” says Dane Belden, president, Peerless. “As an acquirer, ITW has a strong track record of driving best practices and establishing market-leading positions within industries, and Peerless is at an ideal starting point for that.”

“Peerless is a good fit with ITW due to its excellent reputation in the industry, strong brand names, committed workforce and successful management team,” says Marc Fooksman, group president, ITW. “As part of the food equipment group, Peerless will operate as an autonomous business unit, which is consistent with ITW's decentralized organizational structure.”

Commercial Creamery Co., Spokane, Wash., announced its Eedahow Specialties Inc. business unit will now operate under the name Commercial Creamery Co. of Idaho Inc. to highlight the connection with its parent company. The Jerome, Idaho-based operation, which specializes in dairy ingredients including cheese powders, has more than tripled its manufacturing space to 150,000 sq. ft. during its 30-year history. The name change coincides with Commercial Creamery's 100th anniversary year in 2008.

Flowers Foods, Thomasville, Ga., purchased a bakery building in Suwanee, Ga. from The Schwan Food Co. Flowers Foods built the bakery and adjacent freezer in 1999 and 1996 respectively, and then sold the property to Schwan in 2003 as part of its sale of the Mrs. Smith's business. Since 2003, Flowers Foods has operated the bakery under the terms of a building lease with Schwan, and will continue to produce hearth-baked buns, rolls and bagels in the Suwanee facility after the transaction.

In a separate transaction, Schwan sold the adjacent freezer facility to a REIT affiliate of investment firm W.P. Carey & Co. LLC. Flowers Foods has entered a 15-year lease agreement with W.P. Carey for a portion of the freezer space.