Sunrise Strategic Partners, the US food investment vehicle set up by former Boulder Brands CEO Steve Hughes, has taken an undisclosed minority stake in New York state-based Maple Hill Creamery with private-equity firm Trilantic North America.
Maple Hill, a supplier of grass-fed organic dairy products will be able “to invest in the expansion of the team, as well as sales, marketing and supply to support the brand’s rapid growth”, Sunrise said.
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By GlobalDataHughes added: “Maple Hill Creamery is one of the fastest-growing dairy brands in the natural channel. What started as a speciality regional yogurt company in 2009 has become a national dairy brand, and consumers can now find Maple Hill Creamery in over 6,000 retailers across the US, from Whole Foods Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, and Sprouts Farmers Market to select Kroger banners, as well as thousands of independent grocers and speciality retailers. As consumers and retailers begin to understand the value and benefits of 100% grass-fed, there is significant opportunity to scale this brand.”
Maple Hill suppliers products including whole milk yogurt, kefir, cheeses, and milk. Since its launch, the dairy said it has grown from two farms to more than 100 as of the end of this year, “representing 25% of all organic dairy farms operating in New York state”, Sunrise said.
Tim Joseph, the founding farmer and CEO of Maple Hill, said: “We are challenging conventional thinking that you can’t produce milk with ‘just grass’. We are committed to growing a community of regenerative grass farmers and demonstrating how 100% grass-fed dairy is the new organic by benefiting the cows, consumers, the farmers and the land.” said: “We are challenging conventional thinking that you can’t produce milk with ‘just grass’. We are committed to growing a community of regenerative grass farmers and demonstrating how 100% grass-fed dairy is the ‘new’ organic by benefiting the cows, consumers, the farmers and the land.”
Sunrise’s investment is its fifth since it launched earlier this year. In July, Sunrise acquired a minority stake in Utah-based Kodiak Cakes. In March, Sunrise took a minority stake in US jerky maker Perky Jerky.
