Nov 2, 2006 9:10 AM, from staff and wire reports

Hot Stuff Foods LLC has acquired Lettieri’s Inc, a manufacturer of ready-made food products. The acquisition is being financed by Hot Stuff management, Lettieri’s management, and Allied Capital Corp.

The addition of Lettieri’s will extend Hot Stuff’s reach to more than 40,000 other locations that will now have access to the combined resources of both companies, including 500-plus products and multiple food programs and formats.

Sioux Falls SD-based Hot Stuff Foods manufactures and distributes a line of branded food products. It franchises and/or licenses its food concepts in about 1,600 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Headquartered in Shakopee MN, Lettieri’s produces branded and private label products, including breakfast sandwiches, enrobed hot dogs, stuffed baguettes, calzones, burgers, and breadsticks, for convenience store customers. Products are shipped frozen and ready-made.