Food & Beverage Acquisitions in Kansas

Humble Growth has acquired a minority growth-equity stake in simplyFUEL, the protein-snack brand founded by Mitzi Dulan. The partnership is intended to help simplyFUEL scale its brand and accelerate retail expansion (Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target) with Humble Growth providing hands-on operating and brand-building support.

Kingswood Capital Management has acquired Corbion’s emulsifiers business (formerly Caravan Emulsifiers) for approximately $326 million; the business will operate as PATCO Products, LLC and remain headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. The carve-out includes two U.S. manufacturing plants (about 175 employees) and provides emulsifiers for food, personal care, polymer additives, pet food and pharmaceutical markets; Corbion said the divestment lets it focus on fermentation-based technologies.

Nature's Touch has acquired certain assets of Sunrise Growers, the frozen fruit operations of SunOpta Inc., in a transaction valued at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $141 million. The deal transfers facilities in Edwardsville, Kansas and Jacona, Mexico to Nature's Touch, expanding its production capacity, product diversity and North American geographic reach.

The J.M. Smucker Co. agreed to acquire Hostess Brands for approximately $5.6 billion including debt ( $34.25 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction), expanding Smucker's portfolio into sweet baked goods and convenience-store channels. The deal, completed Nov. 7, 2023, brings Hostess's iconic brands (Twinkies, HoHos, DingDongs, Voortman, etc.), manufacturing sites across North America and roughly 3,000 employees into Smucker's business.

Kadenwood, a Newport Beach-based plant‑based wellness company, has acquired Probulin, a probiotic and microbiome health brand previously owned by HempFusion Wellness, Inc. The deal expands Kadenwood’s portfolio into the probiotics category and adds retail and e‑commerce distribution channels to accelerate growth across natural, drug and mass retail outlets.

Denver-based Flagship Food Group, majority owned by CREO Capital Partners, has acquired a majority stake in Tortilla King, a Moundridge, Kansas-based maker of tortillas and tortilla chips. Management remains in place with co-founder Juan Guardiola staying on as President and a shareholder; terms were not disclosed and the deal closed in mid-July 2021.

Shore Capital Partners completed a recapitalization of Old World Spices and Seasonings, a custom spice, seasoning and ingredient manufacturer based in Overland Park, Kansas. Shore will partner with management to invest in business development, R&D, sales and production infrastructure and pursue organic growth and inorganic consolidation through add-on acquisitions.