Encore Consumer Capital has sold its portfolio company Zuke’s LLC, a marketer of dog and cat treats, to Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, the pet care division of Nestlé SA. Encore first invested in Zuke’s in April 2010.
Zuke’s is a marketer of premium all-natural dog and cat treats that are made in the US and sold primarily through the independent pet store channel. The company was founded in 1995 by Patrick Meiering and is based in Durango, CO (www.zukes.com).
“Encore is thrilled to have been a part of developing Zuke’s into a leading brand of premium pet treats in the pet specialty channel. While we will miss working with the incredible management team at Zuke’s, we are excited that Zuke’s will continue to offer the highest-quality pet treats under the stewardship of a trusted organization like Nestlé Purina PetCare,” said Scott Sellers, managing director of Encore Consumer Capital.
Encore Consumer Capital invests exclusively in consumer products companies that have revenues between $10 million and $100 million and where it can utilize its own consumer experience and the expertise of its operating partners at Encore Associates, a strategic advisory firm to the consumer products industry. Encore Consumer Capital was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in San Francisco (www.encoreconsumercapital.com).
“I could not have asked for a better partner than Encore to help take Zuke’s to the next level,” said Zuke’s founder Patrick Meiering. “Encore helped recruit world-class management and sales talent to drive the growth of the Zuke’s brand while staying true to Zuke’s mission of fostering active and healthy devotion between people and pets.”
Cascadia Capital, a mid-market investment bank based in Seattle (www.cascadiacapital.com), acted as financial advisor for Zuke’s. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (www.bhfs.com) acted as legal counsel.
© 2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 1-15-14
