Food & Beverage Acquisitions in North Carolina

Fortune International, a premier seafood processor and distributor based in Bensenville, Illinois, has acquired Simply Fresh, a Durham, North Carolina-based fresh fish and seafood processor and purveyor. The acquisition expands Fortune's Mid-Atlantic and Southeast sourcing and custom-cutting capabilities while bringing Simply Fresh's team and regional relationships into Fortune Fish & Gourmet.

Century Pacific North America, a subsidiary of Century Pacific Food, Inc., has completed the acquisition of select assets and business units — Loma Linda, neat, TUNO and Kaffree Roma — from Atlantic Natural Foods. The asset sale, approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, transfers production and selected equipment with a transition period to ensure continued supply and wider global distribution under Century Pacific's ownership.

Celsius Holdings, Inc. acquired Big Beverages Contract Manufacturing, L.L.C. for $75 million in a deal that closed on November 1, 2024. The acquisition adds a 170,000-square-foot beverage manufacturing and warehouse facility (principally dedicated to CELSIUS production) in the Charlotte metro area, providing Celsius greater supply-chain control, faster innovation cycles and expected margin improvement.

MDWerks, Inc. (OTC: MDWK) has acquired Two Trees Beverage Company, a Fletcher, North Carolina-based spirits producer that uses a proprietary accelerated aging technology. The transaction brings Two Trees' portfolio of more than 30 spirit brands, associated patents and distribution across 29 states into MDWerks as part of the buyer’s strategy to expand its sustainable beverage technology and product offerings.

Brenntag Specialties, the life-sciences division of Brenntag SE, has acquired Colony Gums, Inc., a family‑owned Monroe, North Carolina manufacturer of stabilizer systems and hydrocolloids. The deal will give Colony access to Brenntag’s global distribution network while strengthening Brenntag’s position in the nutrition and specialty ingredients market through Colony’s formulation expertise.

Ben E. Keith Foods has acquired Orrell's Food Service, Inc., including Orrell's 106,000 sq ft distribution center in Linwood, North Carolina, and JEM Foods, Inc., a meat processing plant also in Linwood. The purchase expands Ben E. Keith Foods' geographic footprint into North Carolina and strengthens its product and processing capabilities while retaining Orrell's employees.

Sequel Holdings acquired a majority interest in Piedmont Candy Company in May 2023, partnering with Embassy Park Investment Company. Piedmont Candy Company, headquartered in Lexington, North Carolina, is a maker of Redbird peppermint puffs and Thinfuls popcorn snacks and sells branded and private-label products across mass, dollar, club, drug and e-commerce channels.

GlacierPoint Enterprises, a Mill Point Capital portfolio company, has acquired Southern Ice Cream and Gourmet Foods, a Charlotte-based full-service distributor of ice cream and related products across the Carolinas. The deal creates a newly formed GlacierPoint Carolinas division led by Bailey Jordan, expands GlacierPoint's DSD distribution footprint from South Carolina north to the U.S./Canadian border, and retains Southern's owners Kim and Chance DelCastillo in senior advisory roles.

Good Hemp, Inc. (OTC: GHMP) has completed the acquisition of Diamond Creek Group, the maker of Diamond Creek high-alkaline bottled spring water, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The deal is intended to expand Good Hemp's consumer beverage portfolio and retail / e-commerce distribution (including Amazon and new supermarket placements) into the growing functional and alkaline water market.

Charlotte-based private equity firm Falfurrias Capital Partners announced an investment in Carolina Foods, LLC, a leading wholesale bakery known for its Duchess brand. The roughly 400-employee company will retain current management and work with Falfurrias to expand manufacturing capacity and distribution; Falfurrias advisors Tad Dickson and Mary-Ann Somers will join the board.

The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD) has acquired Deutsche Beverage Technology, a Charlotte, North Carolina–based designer and manufacturer of beverage brewing and processing systems with approximately $40 million in annual revenue. Middleby said the acquisition complements its recent Ss Brewtech purchase and will accelerate product development while leveraging the sales capabilities of its beverage brands.

Westrock Coffee Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire North Carolina-based S&D Coffee & Tea from Cott Corporation. BBH Capital Partners will provide acquisition capital alongside Westrock's existing investors, including The Stephens Group, and the combined business — which will employ approximately 1,700 people globally — will create a leading integrated coffee, tea, and extract supplier; S&D President and CEO Ron Hinson will remain with the combined organization as Chairman Emeritus.

KIND Healthy Snacks acquired Creative Snacks Co., a family-owned better-for-you snack manufacturer based in North Carolina. The deal expands KIND’s product portfolio with Creative Snacks’ award-winning clusters, trail mixes, granolas and pretzels and gives KIND access to Creative Snacks’ manufacturing capabilities and retail distribution.

The Hershey Company completed its acquisition of ONE Brands, LLC, a maker of low-sugar, high-protein nutrition bars, for $397 million (approximately $325 million net of tax benefits). The purchase expands Hershey's better-for-you snacking portfolio and is expected to be accretive to earnings in the first full year post-close.

Cold Spring Brewing Company, a Brynwood Partners portfolio company, has acquired 100% of the stock of Carolina Beverage Group, LLC from SunTx Capital Partners and other selling shareholders. The combined business, to be named Carolina Beverage Group and headquartered in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, creates one of the largest independently owned contract manufacturers in the beverage sector and expands Brynwood's manufacturing footprint and capabilities.

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.