Vestar Capital Partners Makes Minority Investment in Simple Mills

Flowers Foods Acquires Simple Mills from Vestar for $795M

February 21, 2025

Food & Beverage

Flowers Foods has completed the acquisition of Simple Mills from Vestar Capital Partners for an enterprise value of $795 million. Flowers Foods said the deal expands its presence in the better-for-you snacking and baking categories and plans to broaden distribution, accelerate innovation, and amplify Simple Mills' brand awareness.

Vestar Capital Partners Makes Majority Growth Investment in Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods

January 21, 2021

Food & Beverage

Vestar Capital Partners has made a majority growth investment in Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods, a family-founded maker of plant-based frozen and refrigerated foods. The Praeger and Somberg families will remain significant investors and the deal will support product innovation, distribution expansion and continued brand growth; terms were not disclosed.

Vestar Capital Partners Makes Majority Investment in PetHonesty

July 14, 2021

Consumer Products

Vestar Capital Partners has agreed to make a majority investment in PetHonesty, a direct-to-consumer maker of premium pet supplements, with co-founders Ben and Camille Arneberg retaining a significant minority stake and Ben Arneberg remaining CEO. The investment will support PetHonesty's brand expansion, product innovation, and broader distribution via its website and partners such as Amazon and Chewy; terms were not disclosed.

Spell Capital Partners Sells Vestal Manufacturing

December 16, 2020

Manufacturing

Spell Capital Partners (the Spell Family Office) announced the sale of portfolio company Vestal Manufacturing, a producer of foundry cast iron and steel fabricated components serving municipalities, OEMs and the home building/hearth industries. Spell acquired Vestal as a platform in 2015 and, during its ownership, grew revenues, improved profitability and expanded product offerings; the buyer was not disclosed in the announcement.

Entrepreneurial Equity Partners Invests in Organic Milling

December 20, 2021

Food & Beverage

Chicago-based private equity firm Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p) has made a control-oriented investment in Organic Milling Inc., a San Dimas, California contract manufacturer of organic cereals, granolas, snacks and ingredients. Financial terms were not disclosed; e2p said the partnership will support customer and geographic expansion and broaden product offerings.

CapVest Acquires Second Nature Brands from Palladium Equity Partners

April 26, 2022

Food & Beverage

Funds managed by CapVest Partners LLP have closed the acquisition of Second Nature Brands, a Michigan-based creator of premium snacks and treats (Kar's Nuts, Second Nature Snacks, and Sanders Chocolates), from affiliates of Palladium Equity Partners. CapVest said it will support the company's next phase of growth through product innovation, category leadership and scaling the platform organically and via strategic acquisitions; terms were not disclosed.