Lakeview Farms, noosa Holdings Form New Company, Novus Foods
Lakeview Farms, a portfolio company of CapVest Partners LLP has announced the successful completion of its merger with noosa Holdings, Inc. The combined businesses will operate as a new company, Novus Foods, a name that reflects the company’s vision to become the leading consumer packaged goods company for the refrigerated perimeter of the grocery store.
The merger, first announced on Nov. 12, was finalized following the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. noosa yoghurt will operate as a stand-alone division of Novus Foods.
“We are thrilled to join the noosa yoghurt business with Lakeview Farms as we create Novus Foods,” said Tom Davis, CEO of Lakeview Farms. “This represents a huge opportunity for both businesses to leverage their strengths and innovate within the growing yogurt category and beyond. Novus Foods will embody the companies’ combined expertise and passion for delivering high-quality, innovative fresh foods to consumers.”
Novus Foods is well-positioned to drive category growth and retail success. The company’s products are available at major retailers including Walmart, Kroger, Albertson’s, Publix and more. The rebrand to Novus Foods will be completed in the second half of 2025.
noosa is known for its premium whole-milk, Australian-style, high-quality yoghurt products, celebrated for their rich, creamy texture and unique flavors. The merger includes noosa’s outstanding portfolio of products, a talented team with deep yogurt expertise, and a state-of-the-art production facility in Bellvue, Colorado. Approximately 240 current noosa team members have joined Novus Foods as a result of the merger.
“We are excited to join Lakeview Farms, a company that shares our deep commitment to quality and a passion for the refrigerated snacking space,” said Paula Benedetto, noosa SVP / General Manager. “Together as Novus Foods, we have a stronger platform to continue growing and delivering exceptional products to our customers and consumers.”
Citi, Truist, and TD Securities served as joint lead arrangers in the financing for the merger. Citi acted as lead financial advisor to Lakeview Farms, with Truist and TD Securities also advising the company. The terms of the merger were not disclosed.
Novus Foods brings together Lakeview Farms and noosa Holdings, Inc. under a single, bold identity, aiming to become the leading consumer packaged goods company for the refrigerated perimeter of the grocery store. Novus Foods is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative fresh foods that delight consumers. The company leverages noosa’s expertise in premium whole-milk, Australian-style yoghurt alongside Lakeview Farms’ diverse portfolio of refrigerated desserts, dips, salsa, hummus and specialty products. The combined product offerings include popular brands such as Fresh Cravings, La Mexicana, Señor Rico and Salads of the Sea.
noosa yoghurt is the maker of delicious, smooth, and creamy yoghurt – made with the finest ingredients, such as whole milk, real fruit, and wildflower honey. noosa’s full product line includes yoghurts in a variety of flavors and sizes. All of noosa’s full-on tasty yoghurts begin with the freshest whole milk. For more information, please visit www.noosayoghurt.com or follow on Instagram @noosayoghurt and Facebook @noosayoghurt.
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Carbone Adds 5 Pasta Sauces to Its Line
Carbone Fine Food
Following a record-breaking 2024 with over 18 million jars sold, Carbone Fine Food has announced the addition of five pasta sauce flavors: Sweet Pepper & Onion, Mediterranean Marinara, Black Truffle Alfredo, Mac & Cheese Alfredo and Lemon Pepper Alfredo. The new releases are the latest creations by acclaimed chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi as they continue to reinterpret classic Italian-American cuisine through a contemporary culinary lens. The new flavors expand the Carbone sauce portfolio to seventeen flavors.
“Carbone is young, modern-chef driven, and in the zeitgeist,” said CEO Eric Skae. “Our new flavor creations are bold, authentic and uniquely delicious. They reinforce our position as a category innovation driver and the fastest-growing sauce in the nation.”
Crafted with the same care and premium ingredients used in their renowned restaurants, these sauces bring inventive chef-quality dishes to life at home.
- Sweet Pepper & Onion combines the caramelized flavor of roasted peppers and sauteed onions with the sweetness of 100% Italian tomatoes and rosemary.
- Mediterranean Marinara introduces flavors of Southern Italy by bringing together a savory medley of black olives and capers with 100% Italian tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs.
- Black Truffle Alfredo is a rich and creamy blend of Parmesan and Romano Cheeses with Black Truffles.
- Mac & Cheese Alfredo offers a rich blend of aged white cheddar cheese, cream, butter, and spices.
- Lemon Pepper Alfredo combines a creamy blend of Parmesan and Romano cheeses complemented with the perfect balance of cracked black pepper and fresh lemon.
“As always, we’re focused on making it easy for people to enjoy incredible meals at home,” said chef Mario Carbone. “These five new sauces make good on our promise to bring bold, exciting flavors to the table with the same quality and care that’s at the heart of everything we do.”
All five flavors are available nationwide at Whole Foods Market and will roll out at additional retailers in the coming months. Consumers can purchase all Carbone Fine Food products online nationally at both Amazon and https://carbonefinefood.com/.
For more information, visit https://carbonefinefood.com/ or follow on Instagram and TikTok at @carbonefinefood.
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Produce Industry Veteran O’Brien to Step Down at Driscoll’s
Driscoll’s announces the retirement of Tom O’Brien, senior vice president of global human resources & general counsel, who will step down from his leadership role early in the year. A pivotal figure in the produce industry with a career spanning more than 30 years, O’Brien leaves behind a remarkable legacy of innovation, advocacy and leadership.
O’Brien’s relationship with Driscoll’s began nearly 25 years ago when he represented the company as an attorney in Washington, D.C. In 2014, he became Driscoll’s first General Counsel, and his role steadily expanded over the years to include oversight of Global Human Resources and Public Affairs.
“Tom has been a friend, colleague and partner for over two decades. We have navigated many issues together, challenges and opportunities that continually arise in our fresh berry business,” said J. Miles Reiter, executive chairman of the board for Driscoll’s. “He is remarkably adept at seeing around the corner and articulating concepts in ways that drive clarity. While we are fully aligned on core values and goals, Tom is also the person with whom I most enjoy a healthy disagreement, something we both expect to continue to value highly.”
Before his tenure at Driscoll’s, O’Brien’s influence was already well-established at the intersection of law, policy, and agriculture. His policy work spanned issues as diverse as the development of the first federal organic standards, passage of food safety legislation, the unfinished work of immigration reform, and a host of plant pests and quarantines. From 1993 to 1999, he served as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He then moved from the federal to the state level, where he was a policy advisor to California Governor Gray Davis in the Governor’s Washington D.C. office.
After leaving government service until joining Driscoll’s, O’Brien was in private practice in Washington, where clients included Produce Marketing Association, California nurseries and dairies, the promotion boards for mangos and avocadoes, and Driscoll’s.
“Tom’s career has been a testament to the power of collaboration and thoughtful leadership in agriculture,” said Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “He exemplifies the qualities of exceptional leadership: intelligence, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to partnership. His work has not only strengthened Driscoll’s but also elevated the entire produce industry. For the 25 years I’ve known him, I have valued his counsel and insight on complex challenges, but most of all, I have cherished his steadfast friendship.”
O’Brien will step down from the HR and legal responsibilities early in the year. During the transition, he will remain as Driscoll’s corporate secretary and counsel to the board.
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