DOWNERS GROVE – Hearthside Food Solutions of Downers Grove has signed an agreement to purchase Standard Functional Foods Group, a unit of privately held Standard Candy Co., according to a company news release.

Standard Functional Foods Group is a contract manufacturer of nutritional and functional bars located in Nashville, Tenn.

The addition of the energy bar manufacturer will further enhance Hearthside’s entry into the functional bar category, enabling the company to meet the growing demand for a widening array of bars, the release stated.

The acquisition will bring the Hearthside network to a total of 24 production facilities. Terms were not disclosed, according to the release.

“In addition to new network capacity, geographic reach and production capabilities, SFFG brings leadership in R&D with their ability to design, formulate and commercialize the increasingly complex nutrition and energy bars customers are demanding,” Hearthside Chairman and CEO Rich Scalise said in the release.

Standard Candy began as a regional confectioner and expanded into functional bars in 1999 through Standard Functional Foods Group, which currently serves as a contract manufacturer to many of the largest food companies and brands, the release stated.

Standard Candy will retain their Goo-Goo Clusters, which will continue to be made in Nashville and sold at the Goo-Goo Shop retail store in downtown Nashville, according to the release.