Jun 6, 2011 10:34 AM

AdvancePierre Foods has acquired Barber Foods, a Portland ME-based company that produces and distributes its signature stuffed chicken breasts as well as other chicken products.

Barber’s more than 300 frozen products are both raw and fully cooked, and feature a variety of stuffed chicken breasts, ranging from chicken cordon bleu and broccoli-and-cheese-stuffed chicken to chicken stuffed with scallops and lobster. The company also produces frozen chicken nuggets, chicken fingers, and chicken fillets.

AdvancePierre Foods is the result of an October 2010 merger of Pierre Foods, Advance Food Company, and Advance Brands. The combined company supplies protein and handheld convenience products to the foodservice, school, retail, club, vending, and convenience store markets. AdvancePierre offers a full line of packaged sandwiches; fully cooked chicken and beef products; Philly-style steak; breaded beef, pork, and poultry; and bakery products.

The addition of Barber, a family-owned company that is more than 50 years old, is expected to increase AdvancePierre’s retail business, especially on the East Coast and in Canada.

Barber’s Portland manufacturing facility will become part of the AdvancePierre family of operating facilities.

Oaktree Capital Management LP, a Los Angeles CA-based investment firm, is the majority shareholder of AdvancePierre Foods and will continue to maintain a majority share of the company. Additional financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed.