EMPOLI, ITALY — Baked desserts and gelato company Sammontana Italia Group plans to acquire Canadian artisanal baker La Rocca Creative Cakes, a maker of premium cakes for the in-store bakery channel.

Financial terms of the deal, announced March 20, weren’t disclosed. Sammontana said it’s purchasing Richmond Hill, Ont.-based La Rocca from the founding Givens family through a newly formed entity, Sammontana North America.

La Rocca generated 2024 revenue of more than $70 million Canadian ($48.9 million US), and the company makes an average of over 120,000 cakes weekly for leading retail stores across Canada and the United States, according to Sammontana. La Rocca’s lineup includes round cakes, cheesecakes, take-home cakes, kosher and halal cakes and a collection of signature cakes.

“At the beginning of the year, we set ambitious goals for growth and international expansion, and the acquisition of La Rocca Creative Cakes is a significant step toward achieving these objectives,” said Alessandro Angelon, chief executive officer Sammontana Italia.

The Empoli-based company’s product roster includes sweet and savory baked desserts, frozen pastries and ice cream (Italian-style gelato) – under brands such as Sammontana Gelati all’Italiana, Tre Marie, Bindi, Il Pasticcere, Forno d’Asolo, La Donatella, Bonchef, Mongelo and Gelpat – for large retailers, restaurants and foodservice operators in Italy.

Sammontana said adding La Rocca furthers its strategy to expand into foreign markets via organic growth and targeted acquisitions in the baked desserts, ice cream and frozen pastry segments. The acquisition also complements the sales channels and product assortment of Sammontana’s Bindi brand – already present in North America, mainly in foodservice – by bolstering the company’s Canadian and US presence and consolidating its position in the in-store bakery market.

“The brand aligns closely with us in both values and business practices – key considerations for our group when choosing new partners,” Angelon said. “La Rocca is not only an established leader in the premium dessert market, but it also shares our deep-rooted commitment to high-quality ingredients, craftsmanship and Italian-inspired pastry excellence and know-how. We are therefore confident that our combined strengths will deliver excellent results.”

Sammontana expects the transaction to close in March, pending customary closing conditions. Plans call for Michael Givens, president and chief executive officer of La Rocca, to continue leading the business.

Founded nearly 40 years ago by Lina Givens and Harvey Easson, along with their sons Marty and Michael, La Rocca Creative Cakes has become one of the largest premium dessert manufacturers in Canada, Sammontana said. The company noted that, over the past 25 years, Michael Givens has led La Rocca through a period of significant expansion.

“Joining forces with Sammontana Italia marks an incredible opportunity for La Rocca,” Givens said. “With our shared passion for premium desserts and commitment to excellence, we look forward to unlocking new growth opportunities and delivering even more exceptional products to our customers.”