M&A

Last week natural products distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) announced the acquisition of Gourmet Guru, a natural and organic food distributor and merchandiser serving the Northeast. Project NOSH spoke with Gourmet Guru CEO Jeff Lichtenstein about the sale, why it was the right time, and what the future looks like

The deal will nearly double the size of Danone’s North America footprint, increasing it from 12 to 22 percent of the company’s total portfolio and align it with several fast-growing brands focused on healthy and sustainable lifestyles.

Demonstrating the ongoing interest in next-generation food brands, CPG giant Hormel today announced the acquisition of natural nut butter and snack maker Justin’s for $286 million. Justin Gold, Founder of Justin’s, told Project NOSH that the brand admires Hormel’s success and looks forward to learning from the larger company.

Yesterday may have been May Day, but rather than celebrating the start of Spring, several CPG groups were celebrating an influx of cash. No sooner had we hit our collective seats this morning than a few million dollars had flowed out of investors’ wallets and into entrepreneurial coffers.

Last week, Acosta, one of the largest grocery brokers in the world, announced that it had acquired Ignite Sales & Marketing, following a sales process run by Whipstitch capital. The purchase brings a high-touch set of account managers who foster the growth of mid-sized businesses into a brokerage and sales strategy firm that deals with the largest companies in the world.

Yesterday private equity firm KarpReilly’s acquired food and beverage company Zola. A brand pivot in 2012 enabled growth, noted CEO Chris Cuvelier.

Today consumer foods giant General Mills announced that it has acquired upstart meat snack company EPIC Provisions. The brand will operate under General Mills-owned Annie’s Organics. Both Taylor Collins, Epic’s co-founder, and John Haugen, General Mills’ VP & General Manager of 301 Inc, spoke with NOSH about the acquisition.

As the year winds to a close, the wallets remain open, with a spate of high-profile distributor and supplier acquisitions announced in the past two weeks. Many of the companies acquired have a focus on “better-for-you,” fresh, and specialty, underscoring the ongoing importance of consumer interest in natural and unique products.

At this year’s BevNET Live, Scott LaPorta, the president of Campbell-owned Bolthouse Farms described the C-Fresh mission and growth strategy.

Just three years after its launch, neat foods, which markets plant-based, meat-alternative foods, has been acquired by Atlantic Natural Foods, a subsidiary of AFT Holdings. In an interview with Project NOSH, Phil Lapp, neat’s co-founder and CEO, spoke with Project NOSH about the deal.