Food & Beverage Acquisitions in Arizona

Grant Avenue Capital has acquired 21st Century Healthcare, a Tempe, Arizona-based manufacturer of vitamins, minerals and supplements for humans and pets. Grant Avenue will partner with CEO Kirk Neal and the existing management team to expand 21st Century's product portfolio, scale manufacturing and broaden retail and e-commerce distribution.

Nautic Partners, in partnership with Cenavera management, has completed the acquisition of Cenavera Nutrition from Harkness Capital Partners. Cenavera, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a leading independent K-12 outsourced foodservice operator serving roughly 350–380 districts across 33 states; Nautic intends to support organic growth, geographic expansion and add-on acquisitions to deepen its presence in the K-12 foodservice market.

Cardone Ventures, the business growth and investment firm led by Grant Cardone and Brandon Dawson, has acquired CardoMax, a liquid-based supplement company founded by former Navy SEALs. The deal brings CardoMax's proprietary AAT Accelerated Absorption Technology into Cardone Ventures' health and wellness ecosystem for integration with 10X Health Systems and to accelerate product development and distribution.

Marubeni Corporation has acquired Bubbies Ice Cream, the leading mochi ice cream brand in the natural channel, making it part of Marubeni America Corporation while operations and manufacturing remain in Phoenix, Arizona. The acquisition aims to accelerate Bubbies' growth by leveraging Marubeni’s global supply-chain capabilities and distribution network to scale the brand nationally and internationally.

GrubMarket has completed the acquisition of Delta Fresh Produce, a Nogales, Arizona-based distributor and grower of Mexican-sourced fresh produce. The deal expands GrubMarket's supply, packing and distribution capabilities across North America and will integrate Delta Fresh with GrubMarket's AI-powered software and digital commerce solutions.

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (TSX: PBH) acquired Denmark Sausage Co. dba Denmark Foods/Arizona Fresh, a Peoria, Arizona-based fresh sausage and meats manufacturer and distributor. The transaction, which closed on March 3, 2025, was advised by Generational Group and expands Premium Brands' specialty food manufacturing and regional distribution capabilities in the United States.

Sweetmore Bakeries, a Chicago-based family of specialty bakeries backed by Shore Capital, has acquired Azteca Bakeries, a Phoenix-based wholesale manufacturer of Mexican pastries (pan dulce). The acquisition is an add-on to the Sweetmore portfolio and expands its product assortment across retail in-store bakery and foodservice channels.

DTM Distributors, a portfolio company of Strength Capital Partners, has acquired ACME Meat Company, a Phoenix-based specialty food distributor and processor serving independent Mexican restaurants across Arizona. The add-on expands DTM/Strength's foodservice distribution and processing capabilities; Strength's financing partners included Signature Bank and Northcreek Mezzanine.

Taglich Private Equity completed the acquisition of Fiesta Canning Company, a McNeal, Arizona-based processor of green chiles, salsas and sauces. Farragut Capital Partners provided subordinated debt and equity to support the transaction, which represented a family-owner exit and positions the company for growth under new PE ownership.

The Chefs' Warehouse, a public specialty food distributor, acquired substantially all of the assets of Nicola Imports, a Phoenix-based specialty food importer and distributor. The acquisition expands The Chefs' Warehouse's presence in Arizona and marks its entry into Denver, Colorado, enhancing its specialty product distribution capabilities in those markets.

Swander Pace Capital acquired Café Valley, a leading wholesale bakery with production facilities in Phoenix, AZ and Marion, IN, to expand its consumer food portfolio. Stellus Capital Management provided senior debt financing and an equity co-investment to support the transaction; Café Valley's existing CEO Brian Owens will remain in place.

Anheuser-Busch announced an agreement to acquire Four Peaks Brewing Company, a leading craft brewery based in Tempe, Arizona, to join its The High End craft business unit. The deal brings Four Peaks' brewpubs and statewide distribution into Anheuser-Busch's craft portfolio; terms were not disclosed and the acquisition was expected to close in early 2016.