West Madison Foods acquires salad dressing, dip brands from Ventura Foods

West Madison Foods, a newly formed portfolio company of Connecticut-based Brynwood Partners, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Marie’s salad dressing brand and the Dean’s Dip business from Ventura Foods.

The transaction includes the Thornton, Illinois factory where the products are manufactured, according to a news release. Transaction terms were not disclosed.

West Madison Foods, established to acquire the brands, will be headquartered in Chicago, and the Thornton manufacturing facility and its 84 employees will continue to support the business. A small group of workers may transition from the Marie’s and Dean’s brands to West Madison Foods, according to the release.

“Dean’s and Marie’s are extraordinary brands, and we are delighted to lead these brands into their next phase of growth and expansion,” Henk Hartong III, CEO and chair of Brynwood Partners, said in the release. “We look forward to partnering with the team in Thornton to enhance manufacturing and bring more products and new innovations to market. We thank the Ventura Foods team for being a great partner in the transaction.”

Brynwood Partners’ portfolio also includes Harvest Hill Beverage Co., Carolina Beverage Group, Hometown Food Co., Buitoni Food Co. and Great Kitchens Food Co.

West Madison Foods increases the total Brynwood manufacturing network to 17 facilities, approximately 4,700 employees and more than $2.6 billion in annual sales.

Brynwood Partners was represented by Winston & Strawn on legal matters. BofA Securities served as financial advisor and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman served as legal advisor to Ventura Foods.

“The acquisition of West Madison Foods represents another corporate carveout for Brynwood, an area where we have developed a specific investment expertise,” Hartong said. “We have completed three carveouts in the last seven months starting with Birch Benders in December 2022, followed by Uno Foods in March 2023 and now the Dean’s Dip and Marie’s businesses.”

Based in Greenwich, Brynwood Partners is a private equity firm that has been making control investments in North American-based lower middle market companies since 1984.