Bazooka Candy Brands Traded From One Fund to Another

Oct. 10, 2023

Apax Funds acquire the confectionery company from Tornante Co. and Madison Dearborn Partners; price was not disclosed.

Apax Partners LLP announced today (October 10) it bought Bazooka Candy Brands, maker of the iconic bubble gum, from Michael D. Eisner’s Tornante Co. and funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners. Price was not disclosed.

Bazooka produces, markets and distributes a range of confectionary products, including gum, lollipops, gummies, chewy candy and even some chocolate, with brands such as Ring Pop, Push Pop, Baby Bottle Pop, Juicy Drop and Bazooka Bubble Gum.

The company claims its U.S. retail sales growth has significantly outpaced the overall confectionary category, and in the year-to-date period through August, retail sales have grown approximately 29% year-over-year. Tony Jacobs (pictured above), Bazooka’s long-time president, has been promoted to CEO.

Yes, that Michael D. Eisner. He was chairman and CEO of Walt Disney Co. 1984-2005.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.