History
They initially partnered with Cincinnati distiller James Gaff at the time, and eight years later, Fleischmann’s Yeast made the move north of the border to Canada.
By the early 20th century, the company combined with several other food corporations, including a merger forming Standard Brands by J.P. Morgan in 1929. Coincidentally, this was also the same year that the company began sponsoring the musical variety radio program, The Fleischmann’s Yeast Hour, starring crooner Rudy Vallee.
Following several acquisitions – including by Nabisco Brands, Inc., in 1981, and Australian company Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., in 1986 – Associated British Foods purchased Burns Philp global yeast and bakery ingredients companies including the Fleischmann’s Yeast assets, forming AB Mauri in 2004 to service commercial bakers. A sister company – ACH Food Companies, based in Chicago – currently directs the Fleischmann’s Yeast consumer retail business in North America.
In 2005, AB Mauri purchased baking enzyme technology leader Innovative Cereal Systems, LLC, located in Wilsonville, Oregon. Twelve years later, AB Mauri closed on the purchase of Specialty Blending Co., a bread and sweet goods mix manufacturer located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from Flowers Foods. Today, what started as the Gaff, Fleischmann & Co. more than 150 years ago has now evolved to what we know as AB Mauri North America.