Midwest Growth Partners Invests in French Gourmet
Midwest Growth Partners, a West Des Moines- and Omaha-based private equity fund that specializes in succession planning and growth capital investments across the food and agriculture value chain, has invested in French Gourmet, LLC.
Based in Sparks, Nev., French Gourmet was founded by Patrick Novak in 1984 as a manufacturer of artisanal, all-natural, European-style pastries and Danishes. The company manufactures a variety of croissants, Danish pastries, dough shells and puff pastries with laminated dough in frozen and pre-proofed formats. The company services hotels, cafes, independent bakeries, diners, grocery bakeries and other foodservice businesses.
“French Gourmet is well positioned for its next phase of growth, and I’m excited for Midwest Growth Partners to help execute on the vision I’ve had for the company since founding the business,” said Patrick Novak.
Zane Hendricks, vice president of Midwest Growth Partners, said, “French Gourmet has a great product, culture, and impressive manufacturing capabilities. I’ve enjoyed working with the entire management team, and we are excited to be part of the company’s growth for years to come.”
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Tractor Beverage Official Refreshment of Surfing Event
Tractor Beverage Company, the rapidly expanding North American beverage brand known for its certified organic, non-GMO full-line beverage solutions, announced its partnership as an Official Refreshment of the Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico, the fourth stop on the World Surf League Challenger Series and the first stop on the WSL Longboard Tour.
“Tractor Beverage is thrilled to partner with the World Surf League this summer, introducing flavor-forward beverages that will quench the thirst of a generation craving real, refreshing drinks,” stated Justin Herber, chief brand officer at Tractor Beverage. “Our values align perfectly with the WSL’s focus on bringing the surfing community together through authentic experiences and a shared passion for making a positive impact on the world. Tractor’s dedication to protecting the natural world and waterways through organic farm practices, and our delicious flavor combinations make us a natural fit for supporting the WSL and its events.”
“We are so excited to welcome Tractor Beverage Company to the WSL family. Being able to offer our fans sustainably sourced certified organic beverages is important to the league, and we are very well aligned with this company’s mission. We also have a shared goal of creating memorable experiences that bring people together, and the Wallex US Open of Surfing is the perfect opportunity to do so. This will be an event to remember, and Tractor Beverage Company is a big part of that,” said Cherie Cohen, WSL Chief Revenue Officer.
The Wallex US Open of Surfing presented by Pacifico is the fourth stop on the World Surf League Challenger Series and first stop on the WSL Longboard Tour. During this event, Tractor Beverage will offer samples of its deliciously original organic craft refreshers and organic premium craft sodas in recyclable aluminum cans with BPA-free liners, in line with the WSL’s commitment to sustainability and ocean preservation.
Tractor’s Vendor Village booth will showcase some of the brand’s most popular flavors including Hibiscus, Strawberry Dragonfruit, Mango, Kola Cola, and Cherry Cream. Formulated by Tractor co-founder, organic farmer, and beverage chef Travis Potter, each of these drinks captures the unbounded joy of real whole fruit and perfect organic combinations in every sip, creating a uniquely differentiated choice for Tractor Beverage fans nationwide.
To further mark the festivities, Tractor is encouraging event attendees to capture and share their US Open of Surfing moment from the Tractor booth. One lucky winner will receive two VIP passes to the highly anticipated Malibu Longboard Championship in October.
The Wallex US Open of Surfing is one of Southern California’s best summer traditions. Former CT surfers and elite young talents battle at the Huntington Beach Pier in a crucial Challenger Series event. The top longboarders face off for the first time on the WSL Longboard Tour. And on the beach, there’s everything from live music to food and shopping to Nitro Circus performing live. Be there on the sand, or watch the Wallex US Open of Surfing presented by Pacifico live July 29 to Aug. 6 on worldsurfleague.com.
Tractor Beverage Company is revolutionizing the beverage station as the first and only certified organic, non-GMO beverage solution for foodservice. Farmer-founded and employee-owned, the team is on a mission to create a cleaner, healthier planet, one drink at a time.
Proudly served in over 6,000 locations across all 50 states, Tractor’s handcrafted drinks feature clean ingredients that deliver on taste, functionality and experience, without any of the bad stuff. Tractor is the first beverage brand to track and disclose impact data about its ingredients through the Organic Impact Tracker, quantifying the benefit of sourcing organic versus conventional ingredients.
The company’s goal is to encourage farming practices that prevent synthetic pesticides from entering the food system and contaminating the water and land. Tractor has already eliminated more than 46 tons of synthetic pesticides from the food system since 2020 by sourcing organic ingredients, with a goal to eliminate 1,034 tons by 2033. The company was included on the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies and on Fast Company’s 2021 list of the world’s most innovative companies.
The World Surf League is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning the undisputed World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfers on the world’s best waves. WSL is comprised of the Tours and Competition division, which oversees and operates more than 180 global competitions each year; Kelly Slater Wave Company, home of the world’s largest high-performance, human-made wave; and WSL Studios, an independent producer of unscripted and scripted projects.
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Community Coffee CEO Belanger to Retire
Community Coffee, based in Baton Rouge, La., announced that CEO David Belanger, a member of its board of directors, intends to retire with a target date of June 28, 2024. Belanger has served as CEO since 2012. He joined as director of operations in 1998.
Belanger will work with the board of directors to ensure a seamless transition and will remain CEO and member of the board until his successor is onboarded. The Board has initiated a search process to identify Belanger’s successor.
Matt Saurage, chairman of the board of directors stated, “On behalf of the Saurage family and the board of directors, I want to thank David for his 25+ years of service to Community Coffee Company, to our customers and to our employee-family. Under David’s leadership, the company has more than doubled in size and our brand is stronger than ever. David has an unwavering commitment to our values and has instilled a culture of excellence in everyone, both personally and professionally. As a result, we are well positioned for continued growth and expansion.”
Belanger said to employees, “I’ve been blessed to be part of this incredible company and it has been an honor serving you since joining the company in 1998. Together, we have expanded on the company’s history of success while positioning for an even brighter future. I believe that now is the right time to begin the search for a new CEO who will continue that journey with you all. While the search for my successor is underway, I remain committed to working alongside you and our board of directors to further our strategy while ensuring a seamless transition.”
Founded in 1919, Community Coffee, is the nation’s #1 family-owned premium retail coffee brand. The company is an importer, roaster and distributor of premium coffee products available online and in retail stores and businesses nationwide. Community Coffee offers whole-bean, ground, single-serve, freshly brewed and ready-to-drink options. Founded in Baton Rouge, the company remains true to its purpose of bringing joy to those who help communities thrive with programs supporting teachers, military service members, first responders and farmers, among others.
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