Chicago-based Hometown Food Co., a wholly-owned portfolio company of Brynwood Partners VII L.P. and Brynwood Partners VIII L.P., has acquired the Arrowhead Mills and SunSpire brands from The Hain Celestial Group for $15 million subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The transaction includes a manufacturing facility in Hereford, Texas, and its employees.
“We are delighted to announce the acquisition of the Arrowhead Mills and SunSpire brands into Hometown Foods,” says Henk Hartong, chairman and CEO of Brynwood Partners. “Arrowhead Mills and SunSpire were pioneers in the organic, non-GMO ingredients space and we are excited to add these tremendous brands to our portfolio. This acquisition strengthens our industry position by adding improved capabilities in the better-for-you space that we plan to extend into our other categories.”
Arrowhead Mills competes primarily in the baking and breakfast categories. The brand was founded in 1960 in the Texas Panhandle by Frank Ford, a pioneer in organic farming. The Arrowhead Mills brand has a national retail presence.
SunSpire is a chocolate producer that offers health-conscious consumers an assortment of products including baking chocolate and chocolate candy. SunSpire’s baking chips and chocolate bars include Fair Trade, organic and alternative products. Its products are made with ingredients that are completely free of refined sugars, hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, preservatives and artificial flavors.
