Western Smokehouse Partners (AUA Private Equity) Acquires Golden Valley Natural (Hero Snacks)

AUA Private Equity Partners Acquires Western Smokehouse Partners

March 27, 2023

Food & Beverage

AUA Private Equity Partners has acquired Western Smokehouse Partners, a leading contract manufacturer of premium, better-for-you smoked meat snacks, from Monogram Capital Partners. The deal (terms undisclosed) will see AUA support Western's growth and capability expansion across its multi-facility Midwest manufacturing footprint.

AUA Private Equity Partners Acquires Western Smokehouse Partners

May 17, 2023

Food & Beverage

AUA Private Equity Partners has acquired Western Smokehouse Partners from Charis Consumer Collaborative, marking Charis’ realization of its investment. During Charis’ ownership Western expanded through facility investments and add-on deals (Thrushwood Farms, Prairie Sky Snacks), growing headcount from about 60 to over 400 and operating multiple manufacturing sites out of Galesburg, Illinois.

Monogram Capital Partners Reacquires Western Smokehouse Partners

July 9, 2025

Food & Beverage

Monogram Capital Partners has reacquired Western Smokehouse Partners from AUA Private Equity, taking majority ownership of the leading contract manufacturer of better-for-you meat sticks. Monogram — which first invested in Western in 2018 and retained a minority stake after the 2023 sale to AUA — plans to expand Western's capacity to seven facilities by the end of 2025; terms were not disclosed.

Western Smokehouse Partners Acquires Junior's Smokehouse

February 5, 2026

Food & Beverage

Western Smokehouse Partners, backed by Monogram Capital Partners, has acquired Junior's Smokehouse, a family-owned jerky and meat snack manufacturer based in El Campo, Texas. The deal expands Western's national manufacturing footprint, adds capacity and private-label production capabilities, and follows Western’s recent facility expansions and Monogram’s continued investment in supply-chain manufacturing platforms.

AUA-backed Gourmet Culinary Partners Acquires Van-Lang Enterprises

January 16, 2020

Food & Beverage

Gourmet Culinary Partners, a platform backed by AUA Private Equity Partners, has acquired Van-Lang Enterprises, a family-owned manufacturer and distributor of appetizers and hors d'oeuvres based in the Chicago area. The add-on expands Gourmet Culinary Partners' national footprint and adds a 20,000 sq. ft. production facility and self-distribution capabilities in the Midwest to better serve hospitality, catering, airline and retail customers.

AUA-backed Gourmet Culinary Partners Acquires Holiday Foods from Schwan's Company

March 3, 2020

Food & Beverage

AUA Private Equity Partners’ platform Gourmet Culinary Partners has acquired Holiday Foods from Schwan’s Company to expand its national specialty prepared foods footprint. The deal strengthens GCP’s capabilities in appetizers and hors d’oeuvres and supports the platform’s strategy to serve national foodservice and retail accounts.