Food & Beverage Acquisitions in Louisiana

Registrar Corp, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company, has acquired TechniCAL, a leading independent Process Authority for low-acid and acidified foods. The deal brings TechniCAL's thermal process testing, data-collection technologies, and regulatory expertise into Registrar Corp to expand its food safety and compliance capabilities globally.

Hoffmann Family of Companies, a U.S.-based family equity firm, has acquired Elmer Chocolate, a long-standing seasonal chocolatier known for its heart-shaped Valentine’s chocolates and large-scale confectionery manufacturing in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Financial terms were not disclosed; members of the Nelson family (including Rob and Michael Nelson) will retain partial ownership and remain in leadership as Hoffmann aims to expand Elmer’s product portfolio to drive year-round growth.

Five Star Breaktime Solutions has acquired Cajun Vending of Houma LLC, a family-owned vending and office coffee service operator based in Houma, Louisiana. The deal expands Five Star's presence across Louisiana's bayou country and brings Cajun Vending's leadership (including Derek Franklin) into Five Star to ensure a seamless transition for customers.

GS Foods Group, a foodservice distribution platform owned by affiliates of Highview Capital and A&M Capital Partners, has acquired Diamond Foods, a regional K-12 food distributor based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The acquisition expands GS Foods' Louisiana footprint and strengthens its K-12 product and service offerings in the region as part of its ongoing platform build-out.

GS Foods Group, owned by affiliates of Highview Capital and A&M Capital Partners, has acquired Lamm Food Service, a full-line food distributor headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. The deal brings Lamm’s leadership and staff into the GS Foods family and is intended to strengthen GS Foods’ operations and expand its footprint in the Southeast, particularly in institutional channels such as K-12 and corrections.

Fortune International, LLC acquired New Orleans Fish House, LLC, a leading wholesale seafood supplier to restaurants and hotels across New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The deal will expand Fortune's Gulf Coast footprint, enable cross-selling of products, and improve logistics and route efficiencies; the sellers Bill Borges, Brett Borges and Cliff Hall will remain with the business.

MidOcean Partners, a New York-based middle-market private equity firm, has acquired Louisiana Fish Fry, a Baton Rouge-based manufacturer of Louisiana-inspired seasonings, coatings, sauces and bases. The seller was an affiliate of Peak Rock Capital; MidOcean said it will pursue organic growth and strategic M&A to expand distribution, product development and market reach. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Chicago-based Granite Creek Capital Partners and Evanston-based Clover Capital Partners announced a growth investment in New Orleans-based Big Easy Blends, a manufacturer of single-serve pouched frozen beverages and novelties. The capital will be used to expand production capacity, broaden sales and marketing efforts, and support product development and facility expansion.