Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (“e2p”), a Chicago-based, control-oriented private equity firm focused on the food and consumer packaged goods industries, announced that it has closed its inaugural fund, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners I (“e2p I” of “Fund I”), with $423 million in aggregate capital commitments.
e2p’s team is led by experienced food and consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) operating executives and investment professionals with extensive industry networks and an entrepreneurial mindset. Managing Partner Mark Burgett brings over 20 years of private equity and finance experience and Managing Partner CJ Fraleigh brings over 25 years of operating experience, including prior roles as Chairman & CEO of Shearer’s Foods (financial sponsor backed), CEO of Sara Lee North America and VP of Colas at PepsiCo. Additionally, Mark and CJ are complemented by Partner Rich Scalise, whose prior roles include Chairman & CEO of Hearthside Food Solutions (financial sponsor backed), President of Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, and President & COO of ConAgra’s Refrigerated Foods Division. Mark, CJ, and Rich previously partnered together on several successful private equity investments. The partners are supported by a team of experienced private equity professionals and by the e2p Ecosystem, which is a network of business owners, operators, and service providers operating across the food and consumer packaged goods industry.
e2p I targets investments in companies across the food and CPG sectors with a focus on companies with at least $50 million of revenue that specialize in food and beverage products/brands, private label/contract manufacturing, foodservice, and consumer packaged goods sectors. The e2p team brings extensive sector-specific operational experience and executive networks to the table, making them ideal partners for family held businesses and corporate carve-outs. After investment, e2p works closely with management to deploy a business transformation plan that is designed to grow value for all stakeholders.
“We are pleased and humbled by the investor support for our inaugural fund,” commented Mark Burgett, e2p Managing Partner. “We view Fund I’s successful capital raise as a testament to the team we have built and our demonstrated ability to deploy capital into compelling opportunities.”
Fund I has invested in five platform investments to date, including Charcuterie Artisans (a producer of high-quality charcuterie and meats), Salm Partners (the largest U.S. manufacturer of fully cooked sausages utilizing a differentiated, co-extrusion, cook-in-package manufacturing process), Sara Lee Frozen Bakery (a leading provider of frozen bakery goods), World Food Holdings (a leading provider of authentic Mediterranean foods), and Ya YA Foods (one of North America’s largest and most capable co-packers of aseptic food and beverage products).
e2p Managing Partner CJ Fraleigh added, “We look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead and are confident that our extensive operational expertise and industry networks will help us drive growth and value for our portfolio companies and investors.”
Moelis & Company’s Private Funds Advisory Group served as placement agent. Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal counsel.
About Entrepreneurial Equity Partners
e2p is a middle market, Chicago-based private equity firm focused on control-oriented investments in the food and consumer packaged goods industries. e2p’s team of professionals includes experienced food and consumer packaged goods executives and investors who bring an entrepreneurial mindset and extensive industry networks to supporting and collaborating with portfolio company teams. For further information, please visit www.e2pcapital.com.
