Danone Acquires Earth Island (Follow Your Heart)

Platinum Equity Acquires Horizon Organic and Wallaby from Danone

January 1, 2024

Food & Beverage

Platinum Equity has signed and completed an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Danone's Horizon Organic and Wallaby brands, a carve-out intended to operate the brands as a standalone business. The transaction transfers ownership from Danone to Platinum Equity, positioning the organic dairy brands to benefit from Platinum's carve-out and operational expertise and to pursue growth and product innovation.

The Gellert Global Group Acquires Heartisan Foods from Ronin Equity Partners and Landon Capital Partners

April 14, 2025

Food & Beverage

The Gellert Global Group has acquired Barron, Wisconsin‑headquartered Heartisan Foods, a manufacturer and distributor of branded and private‑label specialty and flavored cheeses, from Ronin Equity Partners and Landon Capital Partners. The acquisition consolidates Heartisan's Red Apple, Barron County Cheese and other assets with Gellert’s Atalanta platform to expand the buyer’s presence in the U.S. specialty cheese market.

Next Gen Foods Acquires London-based Plant‑Based Dairy Startup Mwah!

March 6, 2023

Food & Beverage

Singapore-founded food tech company Next Gen Foods has acquired London-based plant‑based dairy startup Mwah!, integrating Mwah!'s plant‑based gelato and dairy‑inspired technology into its TiNDLE platform. The acquisition expands Next Gen's product portfolio into plant‑based dairy, supporting faster product development, distribution scale-up across the U.K. and other markets, and new retail and foodservice offerings.

Entrepreneurial Equity Partners Acquires Daniele International

September 17, 2019

Food & Beverage

Chicago-based private equity firm Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p) has acquired Daniele International, a Rhode Island-based producer of specialty Italian charcuterie and deli meats, from the Dukcevich family, who will retain a significant stake. The deal marks e2p's second platform investment and aims to leverage the firm's food and CPG expertise to support Daniele's growth across retail, club and mass channels.

Danone Acquires Kate Farms

July 1, 2025

Food & Beverage

Danone has acquired Kate Farms, a U.S.-based maker of plant-based clinical nutrition formulas, bringing the company into Danone’s North America Medical Nutrition business. Investors including Novo Holdings, Goldman Sachs, Kaiser Ventures, Main Street Advisors, Aliment, Coeffecient, Ithaka and individual investors supported Kate Farms’ growth and are parties to the transaction. Kate Farms will continue operating as part of Danone’s North America Medical Nutrition unit under leadership led by Brett Matthews.

Sweet Oak (Rhône & Mariposa) Acquires Whole Earth Brands

August 7, 2024

Food & Beverage

Sweet Oak, a newly rebranded parent owned by affiliates of Rhône Capital and Mariposa Capital, completed the take-private acquisition of Whole Earth Brands, combining it with Royal Oak Enterprises. The acquisition was funded with an $862 million senior secured credit facility led by Silver Point Finance, with participation from Fortress Credit, Cerberus, Monarch and other co-investors; McDermott Will & Emery represented Rhône in the transaction.