Colorado Premium Smokes Up Protein Portfolio With Old Hickory Deal

Colorado Premium, a value-added protein supplier backed by Kainos Capital, has acquired Old Hickory Smokehouse, a Tennessee-based producer of smoked and cooked protein products. Colorado Premium supplies prepared beef, chicken and other proteins to foodservice, retail, direct-to-consumer and industrial customers. The acquisition expands Colorado Premium’s sous vide protein business, which uses vacuum-sealed water-bath cooking methods for prepared meats, by adding naturally smoked proteins to its portfolio.Old Hickory Smokehouse was founded by Wayne Wolf, whose sons Wayne and Brandon Wolf will remain with the business. Colorado Premium said the transaction will support additional investment in Old Hickory’s Tennessee facility, including expanded production capacity and hiring. Kainos Capital is a middle-market private equity firm focused on food and consumer products businesses.