THOMASVILLE, GA. — Flowers Foods, Inc. has acquired the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, bread mix plant of Minneapolis-based General Mills, Inc. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to Flowers Foods, the acquired facility will become part of a strong support business for the company and will be called Specialty Blending Co., L.L.C. The plant will supply Flowers, along with other U.S. bakers, with fresh bread mixes.

"It is a first-class operation with a first-class team producing high-quality mixes," said Mary Krier, vice-president of communications for Flowers Foods. "Our plan is to continue operating and growing this business."

General Mills, which also operates a much larger cereal plant in southwest Cedar Rapids, acquired the plant in 2001 when it purchased Pillsbury from Diageo P.L.C.