Jacksonville, Florida-based Acosta, a global integrated sales and marketing services provider in the CPG industry, has acquired Impact Group, a sales and marketing agency with a national presence and local market expertise in natural, specialty, ethnic and emerging brands.
As a result of the acquisition, Acosta will launch two new sub-brands: Impact NSS and Acosta | Berg. Acosta’s Natural Specialty Sales business will be renamed Impact NSS, and Impact Group will become part of this unit. Acosta | Berg will offer a unique and specialized van-based sales business serving metropolitan retailers in key urban markets.
The acquisition will offer clients of both companies access to a wider range of expertise to help their products grow. The deal will open new opportunities, including a highly-differentiated national confection solution; a hyperlocal, van-based sales solution; and a dedicated distribution capability to help emerging brands get to market.
“We proudly welcome Impact Group and all of its talented associates into the Acosta family and are thrilled to further expand our offerings and provide even greater value to our partners,” said Brian Wynne, CEO of Acosta. “With Impact Group’s strength in regional markets and Acosta’s specialty in intimate customer relationships, our clients will receive the level of service and attention they need to succeed. We look forward to a bright future for our associates and clients.”
Acosta and Impact Group will integrate in the coming months, with Impact Group President Matt Buskirk managing the integration in a transitional consultative role to ensure cultures of both organizations successfully combine.
Impact NSS and Acosta | Berg will continue to conduct business as usual with expanded capabilities.
“We are excited to join forces with Acosta, a like-minded company committed to innovation and driving growth for clients,” said Buskirk. “By offering new and expanded capabilities, this deal opens up a world of possibilities for the fast-growing natural, specialty, ethnic and emerging brand segments. We look forward to this next chapter in our business as part of the Acosta family.”
Impact Group’s Marie Hanson has been named chief sales officer of Acosta and will oversee the success of all HQ client-related activities across U.S. channels, reporting to Darian Pickett, CEO sales agency. She began her career in the CPG industry in 1994 and has held numerous leadership and executive roles at Impact Group, Mezzetta, Diamond Foods and Kraft Foods, among others.
The acquisition is a forward-thinking business decision for both companies, allowing them to leverage their shared commitments to strengthening and modernizing services and capabilities to help clients compete in the modern marketplace.
