Brynwood Partners

Brynwood Partnersis an Americanprivate equityinvestment firm focused onleveraged buyoutand othercontrol investments.
Since its founding in 1984, the firm, headquartered inGreenwich, Connecticut,has raised fiveinvestment funds, including a $250 million fund in 2005. Through these funds, the company owns firms and brands includingJuicy Juice,Balance Bar,andPearson's Candy Company(Nut Goodie,Salted Nut Roll, Mint Patties,Bun BarsandBit-O-Honey).
The company's managing partners include Hendrik "Henk" J. Hartong, Jr. (co-founder),who managed Air Express International in the mid-1980s until its 1.15-billion-dollar acquisition byDeutsche Postin 1999.
Other managing partners include Hendrik J. Hartong III, Ian B MacTaggart, Dario U. Margve, Kevin C. Hartnett, Joan Y. Mccabe and Nicholas DiCarlo (CFO).
In 1988, Brynwood Partners purchasedRichelieu Foods,a supplier ofprivate-labelfood products and frozen pizzas.The company produces over 50 million frozen pizzasand more than 20 million finished crustsannually, reporting more than $200 million in yearly sales,and producingprivate labelproducts for companies includingAldi,Save-A-Lot,Shaw's Supermarkets,Hannaford Brothers Co.,BJ's Wholesale ClubandSam's Club.
In 2004, Brynwood acquired New York-based freight forwarder IJS Global Inc.
In 2004, Brynwood Partners soldLincoln Snacks Company,which madeFiddle Faddle,Screaming Yellow ZonkersandPoppycock.
In 2014, Brynwood Partners acquired theJuicy Juicebrand and business fromNestlé.
In 2018, Brynwood Partners bought the Funfetti, Hungry Jack,Martha White,Pillsburyand Jim Dandy baking brands fromThe J.M. Smucker Companyfor$375 million, "Brynwood created Hometown Food" to run that asset.In October 2019, Hometown Food acquired grain-based foods manufacturerArrowhead Millsand baking and confectionery manufacturer SunSpire fromHain Celestial Groupfor $15 million. The deal includes a manufacturing plant in Hereford, Texas.
In 2011, Brynwood acquiredPearson's Candy Company, which was founded in 1909 inSaint Paul, Minnesota.One of the world's 100 largest confectionery companies,Pearson's makes Pearson's Mints,Salted Nut Rolls,Nut Goodies,Bun BarsandBit-O-Honey.
High Ridge Brands is the owner ofCoast,Zest, Vo5, Rave,White Rain(2012-2021), L. A. Looks, Salon Graphix, Thicker Fuller Hair, Zero Frizz hair products and Dr. Fresh, Firefly,Reachoral health products and Binaca breath freshening products.
In June 2016,Clayton, Dubilier & Riceacquired a controlling stake in High Ridge Brands.
In 2003, Brynwood boughtPretzel Flipz, a line of yogurt-covered pretzels made inMohnton, Pa., fromNestlé.
In 2007, Brynwood bought the"Turtles"brand from Nestle USA Inc.,acquiring at the same time the 280,000-square-foot (26,000 m) Turtles production facility in Toronto, Canada — merging the acquisition with a company it owned at the time, Signature Snacks Company.
Subsequently, Brynwood consolidated its portfolio of confectionery acquisitions, which includedStixx, Pretzel Flipz, Treasures, and Turtles, resurrecting the dormant DeMet's Candy Company name. DeMet's started in 1898 as a candy store business and soda fountain shop by George DeMet of Chicago — subsequently creating Turtles candies.  After a series of mergers and acquisitions, DeMet’s was purchased by Nestlé in 1988. In 2007, Signature Snacks, then owned by Brynwood, acquired the DeMet’s brand from Nestlé.  Former Nestlé USA executive Hendrik Hartong III is chairman of the company. In 2013, Brynwood sold the company toYıldız Holding.
In 2006, Brynwood boughtStella D'Oro Biscuit Co.fromKraft Foods.On August 4, 2008, workers of theBakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Unionwent on strike citing proposed pay and benefit cuts and later picketed the company's attempt to bring in replacement workers.
After more than 11 months on strike, the company was required by a court ruling to reinstate the workers.  However, shortly thereafter, the company announced in July 2009 that it would close theKingsbridge, Bronxfacility.In September 2009, Brynwood announced the sale of Stella D'Oro toLance Inc., a large manufacturer of snack foods, which intended to relocate Stella D'Oro's production to a non-union facility inAshland, Ohio.
Brynwood received negative attention for its role in the work stoppage and sale of Stella d'Oro, including a reference in an op-ed piece by theAFL-CIO's Richard Trumka, published inThe Wall Street Journalin April 2010.