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Popular artisanal Firehook Bakery acquired by private equity firm

By Jeff Clabaugh

Firehook Bakery, whose first artisanal bakery opened in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1992, has been acquired by Greenwich, Connecticut-based private investment firm Forward Consumer Partners for an undisclosed sum.

Pierre Abushacra, founder of the family-owned business, retains a minority ownership stake in the company.

Firehook has three retail stores now: two in Virginia, in Old Town Alexandria and Chantilly, as well as a D.C. location in Dupont Circle. Its packaged crackers are sold at grocery stores and other retailers, as well as nationwide online. It also sells its breads and products through wholesale channels.

Firehook gets its name from hook-shaped tools ancient bakers used to pull baked goods out of clay pots in fire pits.

Forward Consumer Partners did not disclose plans for expansion, but has brought on industry veterans to help lead the company, including former Tate’s Bakery CEO Maura Mottolese as chief executive, and Ellen Howse, formerly of Godiva, Hello Products and Dewey’s Bakery as chief marketing officer.

The Firehook acquisition is the first for Forward Consumer Partners’ $425 million Fund I investment fund raised last year, which closed oversubscribed.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

By The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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