Where’s the Beef? Just Ask Falfurrias

Falfurrias Management Partners has made an investment in Young American Food Brands, a family-founded protein products business formerly known as Miami Beef, from Trivest Partners.

Young American produces fresh and frozen meat products, including ground beef, patties, hot dogs, sausages and smoked whole muscle products such as prime rib, brisket and roast beef. The company’s organic, grass-fed and Wagyu beef products are sold to grocery retailers, restaurants and institutional foodservice operators across the United States.

Young American was founded in 1972 by Michael Young and today is led by his son and CEO Robert Young. The company is headquartered in Miami and operates additional facilities in New York and New Jersey.

Trivest Partners invested in Miami Beef in early 2022 through its Trivest Growth Investment Fund, a non-control vehicle. During its investment term, Young American expanded its product range and geographic footprint through the acquisitions of Arkansas-based Devault Foods in June 2023, New York-based Hofmann Sausage Company in October 2023 and New Jersey-based Best Provision Co. in April 2025.

“We are proud to have partnered with the Young family during a period of meaningful growth for the business,” said Jamie Elias, managing partner of the Trivest Growth Investment Fund. “Together, we supported the company’s evolution into a scaled platform while preserving the foundation that has driven its success for more than fifty years.”

“Bringing on Trivest as a partner was a pivotal moment for the company and for our family,” said Mr. Young. “They helped us institutionalize the business and transform into an industry-disruptor with size, scale and a leading management team to back it up. Trivest helped us build the foundation for long-term transformational growth.”

Today, Young American’s company-owned brands include Miami Beef, Free Graze, Florida Raised, Sizzle King, Young Ridge, Brooklyn Burger, Devault Foods, Hofmann Sausage, Wurstkönig, and Best Provision.

“We identified premium protein as a major category of interest based on our ongoing Industry First research,” said Bill Lovette, a partner at Falfurrias. “Consumer demand for grass-fed, organic, and premium-branded beef is outpacing total category growth, and Young American is well-positioned to deliver the highest-quality protein consumers deserve.”

Falfurrias was founded in 2006 by Hugh McColl Jr., former chairman and CEO of Bank of America, Marc Oken, former CFO of Bank of America, and Managing Partner Ed McMahan. The Charlotte-headquartered firm has raised approximately $4 billion across eight funds.

“Our food practice is built around finding businesses in categories with durable, long-term tailwinds and partnering with management to drive the next phase of growth,” said Chip Johnson, a partner at Falfurrias. “Premium protein checks that box in a compelling way, and Young American is a platform well-positioned to capitalize on that demand with the right operational partner behind it.”

Trivest invests in lower middle-market, North America-based companies that operate in the consumer and retail, healthcare, niche manufacturing, distribution, and business services sectors. Trivest was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Miami with additional offices in Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto.

Trivest invests through multiple funds, including its $730 million Growth Fund III (non-control investments in companies with at least $20 million in revenue and $4 million in EBITDA); $600 million Discovery Fund II (control investments in businesses with up to $40 million in revenue and $4 million in EBITDA); $950 million Mid-Market Fund VII (companies with more than $20 million in revenue and up to $15 million in EBITDA); and $1.3 billion Recognition Fund (companies with more than $50 million in revenue and over $15 million in EBITDA).

Jefferies was the financial advisor to both Young American and Trivest Partners on this transaction.