California Pizza Kitchen Dressings to Land on Store Shelves
California Pizza Kitchen has formed a strategic retail partnership with Litehouse Inc., the leading refrigerated salad dressing brand in the United States, according to IRI.
The partnership, designed to leverage growing consumer demand for creating restaurant-quality experiences in the home, will introduce a collection of new CPK-branded salad dressings inspired by the popular salads found on the brand’s in-restaurant menu. Scheduled for early 2023, the salad dressing launch will include a range of new flavor varieties and lean heavily into CPK’s reputation for creativity, fresh ingredients, and unexpected combinations.
CPK and Litehouse restaurant brands bring immediate consumer familiarity, trust and innovation credentials to retail categories that may need fresh thinking. The CPK brand consistently ranks at or near the top for “Brand Image” and “Trend Setting” in the Technomic restaurant brand quarterly report, giving the new dressings partnership built-in momentum.
“Our guests tell us they want more of their favorite CPK items available to bring to their at-home meal experiences,” said Jim Hyatt, CEO and president of CPK. “Our chefs make everything in-house from scratch daily, including our delicious salad dressings. Because we hold ourselves to the highest standards in quality and taste, it was important that our partner share the same exacting standards, and Litehouse is that perfect partner. We are proud to collaborate with a like-minded company to bring CPK dressings to the grocery store shelves for all the fans across the country who crave more than just our pizza.”
Recognized as a leader in refrigerated salad dressings, dips, sauces, cheese, and other innovative consumer packaged goods, Litehouse has made aggressive moves to expand its footprint into different sections of the grocery store, including center store. The CPK partnership allows Litehouse to build on its deep 50+ year history as a leader in freshness and quality, continue expanding into center store, and give consumers and retailers more of what they want – fresh and creative new products that can shake up and reinvigorate traditional categories.
“The Litehouse name is synonymous with best-in-class flavors and product innovations in the dressings and dips categories, just as CPK is in the restaurant category, making this partnership a perfect match,” said Kelly Prior, CEO of Litehouse. “Our category expertise, culinary excellence, and manufacturing capabilities allow us to bring innovative new products to market on an efficient timeline, and we are thrilled to partner with CPK to bring its beloved restaurant dressing recipes to life at retail.”
CPK-branded salad dressings will be available in the salad dressing aisle at grocery retailers nationwide in early 2023.
For updates on the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
Walmart Invests in Sustainable Beef to Give Affordable Options for Shoppers
Walmart has signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Sustainable Beef LLC, a rancher-owned company based in North Platte, Neb. Walmart’s equity investment is part of a broader strategic partnership to source top-quality angus beef from Sustainable Beef LLC’s new beef processing facility. This partnership helps supplement the current beef industry and provides additional opportunities for ranchers to increase their business. As part of the investment, Walmart will also have representation on Sustainable Beef’s board.
Walmart’s investment will help Sustainable Beef LLC open its beef processing facility in North Platte. The facility is expected to break ground next month and open by late 2024, creating more than 800 new jobs. Walmart’s work with Sustainable Beef LLC will create more capacity for the beef industry.
“At Walmart, we are dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable beef to our customers, and an investment in Sustainable Beef LLC will give us even more access to these products,” said Tyler Lehr, senior vice president of merchandising for deli services, meat and seafood, Walmart U.S. “We know Sustainable Beef LLC has a responsible approach to beef processing, one that includes creating long-term growth for cattle ranchers and family farmers. This investment provides greater visibility into the beef supply chain and complements Walmart’s regeneration commitment to improve grazing management.”
The beef company will work with cattle feeders and ranchers to understand critical elements of the supply chain cycle, such as grain sourcing and grazing management. Animal care will follow the Five Freedoms, and there will be a consistent approach to antibiotic use and reporting across herds in line with Walmart’s Position on Antibiotics in Animals, which asks suppliers to adopt and implement American Veterinary Medical Association Judicious Use Principles of Antimicrobials. All of these components will help Sustainable Beef LLC to improve and refine the beef supply chain to provide quality beef for our customers.
“We set out on a journey two years ago to create a new beef processing plant to add some capacity to the industry and provide an opportunity for producers to integrate their business of raising quality cattle with the beef processing portion of the industry and do it in a sustainable manner,” said David Briggs, CEO of Sustainable Beef LLC. “During this journey we found that Sustainable Beef and Walmart aligned on continuing to improve how we care for our animals and crops and provide consumers the positive experience of enjoying quality beef.”
Walmart’s investment is the latest step in the retailer’s commitment to increasing access to high-quality beef at an affordable price for its customers, while boosting capacity for the beef industry and ensuring long-term economic viability for cattle ranchers.
Read more about issues of interest to the food and beverage industries by subscribing to Gourmet News.
Blue Point Capital Acquires Asian Appetizer Maker Water Lilies Food
Blue Point Capital has acquired Water Lilies Food, LLC, a portfolio company of AUA Private Equity Partners, with global investment bank Harris Williams advising Water Lilies on the sale.
Water Lilies is a manufacturer of frozen Asian appetizers that are primarily sold through supermarkets, restaurants and ethnic markets.
“Water Lilies is the go-to Asian appetizer supplier for retailers, brands, and foodservice operators and has achieved impressive growth through its consistent innovation and focus on quality,” said Brant Cash, a managing director at Harris Williams. “The company experienced a tremendous amount of success during its partnership with AUA Private Equity, and we look forward to its next chapter of growth with Blue Point.”
“We continue to see a high degree of interest in value-added manufacturing platforms from both strategic buyers and financial sponsors,” said Brant Wilczek, a director at Harris Williams. “Water Lilies’ unique ability to develop premium, innovative products combined with its scale and manufacturing flexibility provides the company with tremendous runway for future growth in a category experiencing significant momentum driven by consumer demand.”
Based in Bay Shore, N.Y., Water Lilies is a manufacturer and provider of premium, inspired Asian cuisine for major retailers, private label, consumer brands and foodservice operators. Founded in 1995 with a commitment to food safety, quality and innovation, the company has established itself as a preferred partner to its customers across a variety of authentic, inspired products, with a particular focus on frozen appetizers such as egg rolls, spring rolls, potstickers, and dumplings.
AUA Private Equity is a West Palm Beach, Fla.-based, operationally focused, lower-middle market investment firm providing strategic capital to companies in the consumer products and services sectors with a particular focus on family-owned businesses. AUA Private Equity typically makes equity investments of $20 million to $75 million in companies that generate in excess of $5 million in EBITDA.
Blue Point is a private equity firm managing over $1.5 billion in committed capital. With offices in Cleveland; Charlotte, N.C.; Seattle; and Shanghai, Blue Point’s geographical footprint allows it to establish relationships with local and regional entrepreneurs and advisors while providing the perspectives and resources of a global organization. Blue Point has over a two-decade history of partnering with lower-middle market businesses to build processes and capabilities to achieve dramatic growth. The firm focuses on opportunities where it can leverage its collective experience, extensive network of operating resources, and focused add-on acquisition efforts as well as its unique toolkit, which includes supply chain/Asian capabilities, improved digital marketing or data strategies, and talent acquisition and diversification efforts. Blue Point typically invests in businesses that generate between $30 million and $300 million in revenue.
Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Subscribe today to Gourmet News, the leading news publication for the specialty food industry.