Special Touch Bakery Acquires Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc., Expanding Integrated Employment Opportunities in the Rochester Community

Special Touch Bakery, a not-for-profit commercial bakery dedicated to providing meaningful employment opportunities to people of all abilities, announced today the acquisition of Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc., formalizing a decade-long partnership and expanding its integrated workforce.

The acquisition broadens Special Touch Bakery’s product offerings beyond pies to a wider range of baked goods, including cookies, cannoli, cakes, and other specialty desserts, while strengthening operational capacity and long-term sustainability. As a result, the organization expects to potentially double the size of its integrated workforce while continuing to meet customer demand and quality standards.

The expanded product line will also allow Special Touch Bakery to grow its local and regional fundraising and corporate gift programs, providing schools, clubs, community organizations, and businesses with more options while supporting the bakery’s mission-driven workforce.

Prior to the establishment of Special Touch Bakery in 2018, Lanovara partnered with Holy Childhood, the bakery’s parent organization, as one of its earliest work-based vocational partners, helping provide real-world training and employment experiences for individuals with developmental disabilities.

“This is not just a business decision, it’s a mission decision,” said Donna Dedee, President and CEO of Holy Childhood and Special Touch Bakery. “Lanovara has been a valued partner since the beginning of our vocational employment efforts. This acquisition allows us to create more jobs, expand training opportunities, and grow our integrated workforce in a sustainable way.”

Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc. is a well-established company known for quality baked goods and distribution expertise. The acquisition strengthens Special Touch Bakery’s production capabilities and enhances its ability to serve existing customers, including long-standing relationships with regional retailers and foodservice partners such as Wegmans, while supporting continued growth with new customers.

“This acquisition honors Lanovara’s legacy while allowing us to expand opportunity and impact,” Dedee added.

As part of the transition, Bert Salisbury, longtime owner of Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc., will continue working with Special Touch Bakery as a consultant, supporting continuity during the integration and helping maintain Lanovara’s strong customer relationships.

Founded more than 100 years ago, Lanovara has been a fixture in the Rochester food community, with Salisbury leading the business for close to two decades. 

“Lanovara has been a part of the Rochester community for more than a century, and the quality of our handmade products, our employees, and our long-term customers are things I’m incredibly proud of,” said Salisbury. “My wife, Kim, and I have had the privilege of operating this business for the past 18 years, and for more than a decade we’ve valued our partnership with Holy Childhood and Special Touch Bakery, welcoming workers of all abilities into Lanovara. Joining forces with Special Touch through this acquisition is a powerful testament to the people, the mission, and the good that can come from building businesses rooted in community.”

From left: Alisa Santiago, STB Vocational Teammember; Bert Salisbury, past owner of Lanovara Specialty Foods, Inc.; Donna Dedee, President and CEO of Holy Childhood and Special Touch Bakery; Terry Kennett, STB Vocational Teammember.