Premier distributor of ethnic, specialty food products positioned for long-term growth
Chicago, IL — December 20, 2024 — Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is pleased to announce the sale of Indo~European Foods (IEF), a value-added distributor of ethnic, specialty food products and a portfolio company of Corridor Capital, to Ziyad Brothers (Ziyad), a provider of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean products and a portfolio company of Peak Rock Capital. BGL’s Food and Beverage investment banking team served as the exclusive financial advisor to IEF. This deal marks BGL’s fourth transaction this year within the broader specialty foods sector.
Founded in 1966, IEF is an importer and value-added distributor of specialty ethnic foods offering third-party, proprietary branded, and private label products to over 1,000 independent ethnic grocers predominantly located in the Western U.S. and national chains covering 45 states. IEF sources, develops, markets, and distributes Eastern European, Mediterranean, and North African food products including spreads, preserves, condiments, appetizers, cheeses, confections, seasonings, and specialty grains and rice. The company’s primary owned brands include Indo-European and ZERGÜT.
“Dan and Stephen ran a tailored and focused process that resulted in finding a partner we believe is well-suited to support the continued growth of IEF. We appreciate the efforts of the BGL Food and Beverage team and their guidance and unwavering advice throughout every step of the process,” said Iman Navi, Managing Director at Corridor Capital.
Ziyad is a manufacturer and distributor of branded and private label Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food and beverage products. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional facilities in New Jersey and California, Ziyad has a diverse product portfolio of over 800 SKUs. Founded as a small bakery in 1966 in Chicago, Ziyad now owns numerous brands and partners with dozens of companies on an exclusive basis to deliver their products within the North American market.
This transaction brings together two companies that we believe have highly complementary brand portfolios and geographic footprints, enabling both companies to offer customers an expanded assortment of products. The partnership is designed to also help IEF rapidly expand its national presence throughout key growth markets in the South and Midwest.
BGL’s Food and Beverage investment banking team, led by BGL Managing Director Daniel Gomez, has deep sector knowledge and extensive transaction experience, representing companies across the entire food and beverage landscape. Coverage includes branded and private label products, global supply chain, contract manufacturing, processing, and distribution.
To learn more about the state of food & beverage M&A, including the trends and opportunities in the specialty food sector, download our most recent Food and Beverage research reports: https://bit.ly/BGLFoodandBeveragePublications
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About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of REACH Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, LLC, an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.
Industry Contacts:
Daniel J. Gomez
Managing Director
Head of Food & Beverage
[email protected]
312.658.4789
Stephen D. Scharafin
Director
Food & Beverage
[email protected]
312.658.4777
Media Contact:
Kaylyn R. Hlavaty
Communications Specialist
216.920.6622
[email protected]