TruFood Manufacturing acquires Simply Natural Foods

Simply Natural Foods is a private label manufacturer of nutrition bars and confections headquartered in New York

TruFood Manufacturing, a US-based contract manufacturer backed by AUA Private Equity Partners, has acquired Simply Natural Foods (SNF), a private label manufacturer in the better-for-you snack bar space. As part of the integration, Simply Natural Foods will operate as TruFood going forward and will be led by TruFood’s president Ted Schouten and chief executive Pete Tsudis.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Kyce Chihi, managing director of AUA Private Equity, said: “This acquisition represents our strong commitment and support to TruFood’s growth strategy as we add network capacity, broaden our production capabilities and expand our position in high growth categories.  

“We are excited to welcome the Simply Natural Foods team as we continue to grow the TruFoods platform.”

Established in 1992, Simply Natural Foods develops and produces nutrition bars and confections for leading food brands. It employs 200 people and is headquartered in Commack, in Long Island, New York.

Simply Natural Foods has a diversified portfolio of products including, functional and diet bars, chocolate bars, peanut butter cups as well as other moulded and extruded snack items.

“This transaction represents a significant and exciting milestone for our company,” said Schouten. “Simply Natural Foods has been a leader in the nutrition bar and confectionery manufacturing industry with a solid reputation for high-quality standards, continuous innovation, excellent management, and great tasting products. We are excited to add the SNF team to our family and look forward to working together on advancing our shared growth plan with a focus on providing customers with a broad range of snack brands and products.”

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, TruFood Manufacturing is a contract manufacturer of branded and private-label nutrition bars, protein bars, chocolate moulded products, and baked goods. These products are sold at clubs, groceries, drugstores, convenience and department stores worldwide. 

The company operates a 400,000 square foot of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.

For Tsudis the integration of Simply Natural Foods allows TruFood to leverage the success SNF has established in the better-for-you snacking segment and enables the company to serve a larger customer base with a broader range of product offerings. “We are thrilled about the meaningful value-added opportunities that this acquisition will provide for our employees, customers and other strategic partners,” he said.

Abe Brach, president and chief executive of Simply Natural Foods, will be departing in the coming weeks to pursue his other business endeavours.

Commenting on the acquisition, Brach said: “As part of the TruFood family, Simply Natural Foods will have more resources and support to focus on continued growth and strengthen its commitment to providing consumers with great-tasting and wholesome products. I am proud of the company we have built and believe that TruFood will be a good partner to SNF.

“On behalf of everyone at SNF, we look forward to joining the TruFood team and are confident that, together, the company will be best positioned for growth and success. While I will miss my SNF family, I am excited to explore new opportunities, and I could not ask for a better situation in my departure.”

Based in New York, AUA Private Equity Partners is an operationally-focused, lower middle-market investment firm providing strategic capital to companies in the consumer products and services sectors with a particular focus on family-owned businesses or companies benefiting from the growth of the Hispanic population across the US.

The company makes equity investments ranging from $20 million to $75 million in companies that generate in excess of $5 million in EBITDA.