Food & Beverage Acquisitions in 2016

French agricultural cooperative Agrial has acquired Two Beers Brewing and Seattle Cider Company, merging the two Seattle-based beverage producers into a single, wholly owned subsidiary. Founder Joel VandenBrink will remain CEO and all employees were retained; Agrial aims to provide capital and international distribution to accelerate domestic and global growth for the cider and beer brands.

Sea Watch International completed a major investment and partnership with Look's Gourmet Food Company, Inc., d/b/a Bar Harbor Foods, acquiring a stake while leaving Michael Cote in his role. The transaction brings Sea Watch additional production capabilities and expands its presence into all-natural, sustainable retail grocery distribution for shelf-stable seafood products.

Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the craft division of MillerCoors, has acquired Granbury-based Revolver Brewing. Revolver will remain a separate business unit with existing management and employees and will leverage Tenth and Blake's resources to expand the Revolver brand across Texas; terms were not disclosed.

MillerCoors, via its craft division Tenth and Blake Beer Company, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Terrapin Beer Company, the Athens, Georgia-based craft brewery. Financial terms were not disclosed; the deal is expected to close in August and MillerCoors said Terrapin will continue brewing and operating from its Athens facility.

Cott Corporation acquired Concord, North Carolina-based S&D Coffee, Inc., with the deal closing on August 11, 2016. S&D will operate as a subsidiary under the S&D Coffee & Tea name with Ron Hinson remaining as President and CEO; the acquisition provides Cott expanded beverage manufacturing, supply chain and distribution capabilities in the foodservice channel.

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) acquired all outstanding stock of Nor‑Cal Produce and an affiliated entity, plus certain real estate, in a cash transaction of approximately $68.6 million. The purchase expands UNFI’s fresh produce capabilities and national produce footprint; Nor‑Cal, based in West Sacramento, California, reported about $151 million in net sales for the 12 months ended February 29, 2016 and Todd Achondo will remain in a leadership role.

KeHE Distributors, LLC has acquired Monterrey Provision Company, a family-owned San Diego-based distributor of perimeter products for retail grocery stores. The deal expands KeHE's perimeter product capabilities and adds Monterrey's distribution centers in San Diego and Oklahoma City to KeHE's network, supporting the buyer's growth and geographic coverage.

Food Evolution LLC, a platform backed by Akoya Capital Partners with partners Balance Point Capital and Plexus Capital, has acquired Fresh & Ready Foods, Inc. as the first add-on to the Food Evolution platform. The transaction expands Food Evolution's geographic footprint and capabilities in the fresh prepared, grab-n-go food category across the Western United States.