Tracked deals
31
31 tracked deals across 2016-2026.
Consumer Products Buyers & Acquisitions in Ohio
Buyer mix
Mixed buyer set
21 pe · 21 strategic
Top trend
Volume peaked in 2024
8 tracked deals announced in 2024.
Primary Insight
What Stands Out
- Children’s screen-free learning and enrichment show up repeatedly, including acquisitions involving Bendon and Boogie Board.
- Consumer health & wellness is a second major thread, from Purell (with The Clorox Company) to orthotics brands via Foundation Wellness.
- Deals often emphasize portfolio expansion—adding brands to an existing platform and extending retail/e-commerce reach.
- Several recurring investment platforms (e.g., Brightstar Capital Partners, Branford Castle Partners L.P., Seawall Capital, LLC) appear across years covered (2016–2026).
| Theme | Example from Ohio deals |
|---|---|
| Platform add-ons | Expansion of children’s and lifestyle product lines |
| Strategics to broaden reach | The Clorox Company adding Purell to its Health and Wellness segment |
| Wellness/orthotics | Foundation Wellness managing PowerStep and Currex |
| Carve-out/divestiture | The Hawthorne Gardening Company spun out as a discontinued operation |
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Top Buyers
Illustrative buyers pulled from tracked transactions on this page. This table is capped and intentionally non-exhaustive.
| Buyer | # Deals | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightstar Capital Partners | 2 | Middle-market private equity firm focused on control-orie... | PE |
| Arcis Golf | 1 | Premier operator and manager of public and private golf c... | Strategic |
| Aterian Investment Partners | 1 | Operationally-focused middle-market private equity firm i... | PE |
| Audax Private Equity | 1 | Middle-market private equity firm focused on buy-and-buil... | PE |
| Backyard Discovery | 1 | Designer, manufacturer, distributor and installer of resi... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Bansk Group | 1 | Consumer-focused private investment firm that invests in ... | PE |
| Bendon LLC | 1 | Designer and distributor of children’s coloring, activity... | Strategic |
| Branford Castle Partners L.P. | 1 | Affiliate private equity firm focused on control investme... | PE |
| Buffalo Games | 1 | Manufacturer and marketer of puzzles, games and developme... | Strategic |
| CPC | 1 | Permanent investment vehicle owned by large family office... | Family Office |
Acquisition Volume in Consumer Products in Ohio by Year
Last 8 years
Actual
Full-year estimate
Supporting Data
Recent Transactions
-
September 16, 2026
- Buyer
- Bendon LLC, Brightstar Capital Partners
- Target
- Hinkler’s North American business
- Seller
- Hinkler (North American business carve-out)
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Bendon LLC acquired Hinkler’s North American business to expand its owned-brand portfolio and broaden product offerings in children’s coloring, activity, arts and crafts, stationery, toys, and games. The deal is a carve-out: Hinkler’s Australian and other international operations continue under existing ownership, while the North American business will operate under Bendon.
-
- Buyer
- River Pines Capital
- Target
- Bendon, Inc.
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
River Pines Capital (RPC) announced a strategic investment in Bendon, Inc., a producer of licensed screen-free children’s coloring, activity, and educational products. Bendon’s founder and CEO Ben Ferguson will continue to lead the company, and both he and management will retain meaningful ownership while Thomas Kearney of RPC serves on Bendon’s board.
-
- Buyer
- Brightstar Capital Partners
- Target
- Bendon Publishing International, Inc.
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Brightstar Capital Partners acquired Bendon Publishing International, a designer and distributor of licensed screen-free children’s coloring, activity, and educational products. Founder and CEO Ben Ferguson will continue to lead Bendon and retain a meaningful ownership stake.
-
April 9, 2026
- Buyer
- Vireo Growth, Inc.
- Target
- The Hawthorne Gardening Company
- Seller
- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (The)
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company completed the sale of its subsidiary The Hawthorne Gardening Company to Vireo Growth, Inc. The transaction is structured as Vireo acquiring Hawthorne in exchange for Vireo shares held by an independent strategic partner, and Hawthorne results are treated as a discontinued operation beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2026.
-
- Buyer
- The Clorox Company
- Target
- GOJO Industries
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
The Clorox Company agreed to acquire GOJO Industries, the Ohio-based maker of Purell hand sanitizer and skin hygiene products, for $2.25 billion in cash. Clorox said the deal adds Purell to its Health and Wellness segment and expands its consumer and B2B/professional reach, with expected closing before the end of fiscal year 2026 subject to approvals. The transaction has since been completed, with GOJO operating as Clorox Purell headquartered in Akron, Ohio.
-
March 25, 2025
- Buyer
- Buffalo Games
- Target
- Boogie Board
- Seller
- Kent Displays, Inc.
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Buffalo Games announced the acquisition of Boogie Board, the reusable writing and drawing tablet brand originally commercialized by Kent Displays. The purchase expands Buffalo Games' consumer enrichment product portfolio — bringing Boogie Board's creative-play and learning-focused electronics into Buffalo Games' retail and e-commerce channels while maintaining existing distribution.
-
- Buyer
- Elliott Investment Management L.P., Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Weiss family (descendants of Jacob Sapirstein)
- Target
- American Greetings Corporation
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Elliott Investment Management will purchase a majority ownership stake in American Greetings, with CD&R and the Weiss family retaining a significant minority stake. The transaction is focused on accelerating American Greetings’ growth across its Celebrations portfolio and geographic footprint.
-
- Buyer
- W Electric Intermediate Holdings, LLC
- Target
- Mace Security International, Inc.
- Seller
- Mace Security International stockholders
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Mace Security International, Inc. completed a going-private merger effective December 6, 2024, under which Merger Sub merged into the company and the company became wholly owned by W Electric Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Each outstanding share (other than excluded or dissenting shares) was cancelled in exchange for $0.015777 in cash per share, with potential additional contingent consideration; Charles A. Gaddis was appointed Stockholders' Representative.
-
November 19, 2024
- Buyer
- Prosourcefit, Pilot Wave Holdings
- Target
- Hyggelight
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Prosourcefit, a Pilot Wave Holdings portfolio company, has acquired Hyggelight, a small premium candle brand known for its sustainable "Growing Candle" product. The add-on expands Prosourcefit's lifestyle and wellness product offering and will leverage Prosourcefit's and Pilot Wave's capabilities to scale Hyggelight.
-
October 10, 2024
- Buyer
- Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, LLC, WhiteHorse Capital
- Target
- Midwest Equipment Sales, LLC
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, LLC has acquired Midwest Equipment Sales, LLC. WhiteHorse Capital provided a new first-lien credit facility to support the acquisition, refinance existing debt, and pay related transaction expenses; Westinghouse says the deal will help restore its manufacturing and product-innovation capabilities and leverage MWE's retail relationships.
-
October 8, 2024
- Buyer
- Creative Brands
- Target
- P. Graham Dunn Company
- Seller
- P. Graham Dunn Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Creative Brands, a Phoenix-based distribution and manufacturing firm, has acquired P. Graham Dunn Company of Dalton, Ohio. The deal transfers ownership from the company’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to Creative Brands, which plans to expand P. Graham Dunn’s production and distribution capabilities and strengthen its marketing across retail channels.
-
September 4, 2024
- Buyer
- Bansk Group
- Target
- Foundation Wellness
- Seller
- Gridiron Capital
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Bansk Group, a New York-based consumer-focused private investment firm, has acquired Foundation Wellness, a Wadsworth, Ohio-based consumer health & wellness platform that manages specialty orthotics brands including PowerStep and Currex. The company was purchased from Gridiron Capital; financial terms were not disclosed and Foundation Wellness' existing management team will remain in place.
-
June 4, 2024
- Buyer
- Marubeni Growth Capital US, Marubeni Corporation
- Target
- RG Barry Brands
- Seller
- Blackstone, Mill Road Capital
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Marubeni Growth Capital US (MGCU), the U.S. growth equity platform of Marubeni Corporation, completed its inaugural investment by acquiring RG Barry Brands (RGB) on June 4, 2024, with Blackstone exiting and Mill Road Capital retaining a minority stake. MGCU will use RGB as the cornerstone of a next-generation multi-brand consumer platform to drive organic and inorganic growth across RGB’s Dearfoams, Baggallini, Columbus Product Group and Planet A brands.
-
May 21, 2024
- Buyer
- Imperial, CPC
- Target
- Pukka Inc.
- Seller
- Pukka principals (including founder and CEO Shawn Rogers)
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Imperial, a Missouri-based headwear manufacturer owned by investment vehicle CPC, has acquired Pukka Inc., a Findlay, Ohio designer and manufacturer of custom headwear serving golf, action sports and team sporting goods markets. Financial terms were not disclosed; Pukka's management and operations will remain in place and the brands will be run separately as Imperial (a CPC portfolio company) looks to expand its product and channel footprint.
-
January 3, 2024
- Buyer
- Society Brands
- Target
- Primal Life Organics
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Society Brands, a tech-enabled consumer products platform, has acquired Akron, Ohio–based Primal Life Organics to expand its portfolio of direct-to-consumer and retail personal care brands. The founders will remain involved (Trina Felber as brand president), and Primal Life's more than 20 employees will stay in place as Society works to scale the brand's DTC business and expand retail distribution.
-
December 15, 2022
- Buyer
- Arcis Golf
- Target
- TPC River's Bend
- Seller
- TPC Network (PGA TOUR)
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Dallas-based Arcis Golf has acquired TPC River's Bend, a private golf club near Cincinnati, Ohio. The acquisition expands Arcis’s portfolio of premium clubs in Ohio and will keep TPC River's Bend operating as a licensed TPC property while Arcis invests in food, beverage, programming, and clubhouse enhancements.
-
August 31, 2022
- Buyer
- Audax Private Equity
- Target
- Salon Lofts LLC
- Seller
- Hill River Capital, Inc., Friend Skoler & Co., LLC
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Audax Private Equity completed a strategic growth investment in Salon Lofts, a Columbus, Ohio-based operator of salon suites, in a transaction that closed on August 31, 2022. The deal (which included a rollover of a portion of Friend Skoler & Co.'s equity) will support Salon Lofts' expansion through acquisitions, new unit openings and enhanced service offerings.
-
July 21, 2022
- Buyer
- Cincy Brands
- Target
- Vitabox
- Seller
- Wilbur Labs
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Cincy Brands, a Cincinnati-based, technology-driven consumer products acquirer, has acquired Vitabox, an online seller of vitamins, personal care and pet supplies. The deal gives Cincy Brands marketplace selling, loyalty and fulfillment capabilities to scale its portfolio and accelerate go-to-market for acquired brands.
-
March 31, 2022
- Buyer
- Homewerks Worldwide, LLC
- Target
- Shower and Specialty Plumbing business (Waxman Consumer Products Group, Inc.)
- Seller
- Waxman Consumer Products Group, Inc.
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Homewerks Worldwide, LLC has acquired the Shower and Specialty Plumbing business from Waxman Consumer Products Group, adding showerheads, faucets, valves and packaged plumbing repair lines along with associated IP and transitioning employees. The deal expands Homewerks' product portfolio and builds on its growth strategy following a 2021 growth investment from H.I.G. Capital.
-
February 8, 2022
- Buyer
- Foundation Wellness, Gridiron Capital
- Target
- Doctor Hoy's Natural Pain Relief
- Seller
- Joachim Gloschat, Laura Gloschat
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Foundation Wellness, a Gridiron Capital-backed manufacturer of insoles and foot care products, has acquired Doctor Hoy's Natural Pain Relief, a U.S.-made topical analgesic brand. The add-on acquisition expands Foundation Wellness's product portfolio into natural topical pain relief and complements its existing brands such as PowerStep and Foot Petals.
-
January 5, 2022
- Buyer
- Signature Brands, Traub Capital Partners
- Target
- Brand Castle
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Signature Brands, a Traub Capital Partners-backed consumer products platform, has acquired Brand Castle, a Bedford Heights, Ohio maker of baking and decorating kits, gingerbread houses and licensed baking mixes. The acquisition is an add-on to Signature Brands' portfolio intended to expand its product assortment, seasonal capabilities and retail presence across mass merchants.
-
December 28, 2021
- Buyer
- Eleeo Brands
- Target
- Dapple Baby
- Seller
- Juggernaut Capital Partners, Noble Holdings
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Juggernaut Capital Partners has sold the Dapple Baby brand to Eleeo Brands. Dapple, a plant-based baby cleaning and personal care product brand (previously part of the Noble Holdings platform), will join Eleeo's family of family-focused health & wellness brands, including Boogie Wipes, to expand its retail and e-commerce presence.
-
- Buyer
- Insight Equity Holdings LLC
- Target
- Easy Way Leisure Corporation
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Recapitalization
Insight Equity Holdings LLC completed a majority recapitalization of Easy Way Leisure Corporation, a Cincinnati-based designer and manufacturer of premium outdoor cushions, pillows, umbrellas, covers and drapes. The transaction (closed January 15, 2021) pairs Easy Way with Insight Equity to support growth, operational improvements and expansion of the Company's manufacturing and distribution capabilities.
-
January 14, 2021
- Buyer
- Lasko Products, LLC, Comvest Partners, JW Levin Management Partners
- Target
- Guardian Technologies, LLC
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Lasko Products, LLC has acquired Guardian Technologies, LLC, the maker of GermGuardian and PureGuardian consumer air-purification products. The deal brings Guardian's air-purification capabilities and branded product lines into Lasko's home environment portfolio; Lasko is a portfolio company of Comvest Partners with support from executive partner JW Levin Management Partners.
-
December 31, 2020
- Buyer
- Seawall Capital, LLC
- Target
- Kent Water Sports Holdings, LLC
- Seller
- Archer family
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Seawall Capital, a middle‑market private equity firm, acquired Kent Water Sports Holdings, LLC (Kent) for an undisclosed amount; the transaction closed on December 31, 2020. Seawall said it will partner with Kent’s management and the Archer family to provide capital and resources to accelerate organic growth and pursue future acquisitions across Kent’s portfolio of action‑sports brands.
-
July 8, 2020
- Buyer
- Scott's Liquid Gold
- Target
- Biz (laundry brand), Dryel (laundry brand)
- Seller
- CR Brands, Resilience Capital Partners
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Scott's Liquid Gold acquired the Biz and Dryel laundry brands from CR Brands, a portfolio company of Resilience Capital Partners. Business Capital arranged a $10 million acquisition credit facility with UMB Bank to finance the transaction and support working capital for the combined businesses.
-
March 11, 2020
- Buyer
- Spectrum Brands Pet, LLC, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.
- Target
- Omega Sea LLC
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Spectrum Brands Pet, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., acquired substantially all of the assets of Omega Sea LLC, the maker of the Omega One aquatics nutrition brand. The acquisition adds Omega Sea's aquatics nutrition and care products to Spectrum Brands Global Pet Care portfolio to expand its aquarium product offerings and retailer relationships while maintaining current operations.
-
August 13, 2019
- Buyer
- Castle Harlan, Inc., Branford Castle Partners L.P.
- Target
- Sunless, Inc.
- Seller
- Funds controlled by The Riverside Company, Certain current and former management
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Castle Harlan, Inc. and Branford Castle Partners have acquired Sunless, Inc., the global maker of spray tanning booths, solutions and handheld equipment (brands include MysticTan, VersaSpa and Norvell). The sellers included funds controlled by The Riverside Company and certain current and former management; the deal closed August 13, 2019 and terms were not disclosed. Sunless is headquartered in Macedonia, Ohio and is the industry leader in spray tanning booths and solutions installed across salons, fitness clubs and retail channels.
-
- Buyer
- CapitalWorks, LLC, CapitalWorks Fund IV, L.P.
- Target
- Essco
- Seller
- Cardinal Equity Partners
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
CapitalWorks, through its Fund IV vehicle, acquired Essco, a leading U.S. value-added distributor of floorcare products, from Cardinal Equity Partners. Terms were not disclosed; CapitalWorks said it will accelerate Essco's growth by enhancing product offerings and e-commerce capabilities (Dan Sustar to join the advisory board) with senior financing provided by First Commonwealth Bank.
-
- Buyer
- Juggernaut Capital Partners
- Target
- Crystal
- Seller
- French Transit, Limited
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Juggernaut Capital Partners has acquired Crystal, the natural mineral salt deodorant brand, from French Transit, Limited. Headwaters MB advised French Transit on the sale; financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition expands Juggernaut's consumer products portfolio in the natural personal care category.
-
October 19, 2016
- Buyer
- Aterian Investment Partners (affiliate), Backyard Discovery
- Target
- Step2
- Industry
- Consumer Products
- Location
- Ohio, United States
- Type
- Addon
Aterian Investment Partners, through an affiliate, has acquired Step2, a branded designer and manufacturer of large-format plastic toys headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio. The deal combines Step2 with Aterian's existing platform Backyard Discovery to create the largest outdoor toy company in North America and expand market share across playsets, playhouses, ride-ons and home & garden products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which consumer sub-sectors show the most acquisition activity in Ohio?
Recent Ohio deals highlighted here cluster around children’s screen-free learning/enrichment products, consumer health and wellness (including Purell and orthotics), and lifestyle items such as candles and gardening-related brands.
Do Ohio consumer products acquisitions skew toward private equity or strategic buyers?
Both appear. The page includes strategic buyers like The Clorox Company and private/investment platforms such as Brightstar Capital Partners and Elliott Investment Management L.P..
Are these deals mainly full acquisitions, or do divestitures and carve-outs also occur?
They include both. For example, Scotts Miracle-Gro completed a divestiture of The Hawthorne Gardening Company to Vireo Growth, while other transactions are described as carve-outs (such as Bendon LLC acquiring Hinkler’s North American business).
Where are the Ohio-based targets headquartered in the deals listed?
The page facts cite Ohio headquarters for targets such as GOJO Industries operating in Akron, Ohio, and Foundation Wellness headquartered in Wadsworth, Ohio, among other Ohio-linked transactions.
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