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A global maker of food equipment that has been gobbling up competitors in recent years has acquired Follett Corp., a Forks Township-based maker of refrigeration equipment, the two companies jointly announced Wednesday. Steven R. Follett, CEO of the privately held company, said the decision to sell was the best choice for employees and shareholders and will lead to continued growth opportunities for the 68-year-old business. He said people should see no changes, including in the workforce. The company name will remain Follett, and it will operate independently from its new owner, The Middleby Corp., which is based in Illinois. Follett plans to stay in his current role. The deal is expected to close later this month. Neither side would disclose the price or other terms. Follett said the company, which makes ice machines, beverage dispensers and freezers for the food service and health-care industries, has experienced significant growth since 2011. He said more than 500 people work at its three locations — in addition to Forks Township, Follett has a facility in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV in Hanover Township, Northampton County, and a manufacturing plant in Gdansk, Poland, which serves Europe and other international markets. The company posted revenue of $140 million in 2015. The expansion evidently drew Follett Corp. as an acquisition target. Follett said that in the last year and half "strategic firms" had shown interest in the company. He declined to say how long the deal with Middleby took. "It's been a long process," he said. "Our board and I feel excited about the transition into the future," said Follett, whose father, Don S. Follett, moved the company in 1957 from Garden City, N.Y., to Phillipsburg, then relocated about 10 years later to its current facility at 801 Church Lane. Jerry Green, president of United Steelworkers Local 2599, which represents about 200 Follett workers, said he was blindsided by the news. "It was never brought up during the latest negotiations that were ratified," he said. Earlier this month, Follett resolved a dispute with the union over an addendum to an existing labor contract. The workers had authorized a strike days before the ratification vote. At Middleby Corp., about 4 percent of employees belong to unions, according to the company's annual reports. The company posted net income of nearly $192 million on sales of $1.8 billion during 2015, was named one of Fortune magazine's fastest growing companies in each of the last two years. According to its annual report, the company, which has about 7,800 employees in the U.S. and overseas, acquired about 15 companies since October 2013 for its three divisions: commercial food service, residential kitchen equipment and food processing. Its products are in 1 of every 3 restaurants worldwide, according to Middleby's website. Major clients include Subway and Papa John's Pizza, according to spokeswoman Darcy Bretz. Middleby has been looking to expand its beverage-equipment sales, she said. Calling Follett "a great company," she said, "We're going to take them a little bit further." Middleby stock, which closed Wednesday at $118.42 per share, is listed on Nasdaq. "Their brands are very visible," Follett said. "Frankly, that was one of the reasons we like this partnership. They want us to perform independently and they appreciate our operations." The seed for Follett Corp. was planted by Steven Follett's grandfather Roy Follett, who helped found Korber Sales and Manufacturing Inc. in 1948 with partner Henry Korber, according to Follett Corp.'s website. Roy Follett bought out Korber three years later, moving the sales office to Garden City. After his death, his son Don Follett took over in 1954. Alison Pickel of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce said Follett Corp. has supported the community with financial commitments and volunteerism. "What does this acquisition mean to the organizations that they have supported in the past?" asked Pickel, the Chamber's executive vice president for Easton and Phillipsburg initiatives. Click here to read the original article.