IRI and NPD Rebrand as Circana, the Leading Advisor on the Complexity of Consumer Behavior
[CHICAGO] – March 7, 2023 – Following their merger in August 2022, Information Resources, Inc. ("IRI") and The NPD Group ("NPD") today unveiled a new combined company name and brand identity: Circana.
Circana™ is the leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. Through unparalleled technology, advanced analytics, cross-industry data and deep expertise, Circana provides clarity that helps clients take action and unlock business growth.
“We are proud to begin this new chapter together as Circana, a name that conveys our 360-degree, full-circle understanding of the consumer and market, and our unique ability to bring clients a complete view of the consumer, store and wallet,” said Kirk Perry, president and chief executive officer, Circana (formerly IRI® and NPD®). “In today’s dynamic global retail and media environment, our value proposition has never been stronger. Circana is undeniably best positioned to advise the world’s leading brands and retailers across almost every industry on how to identify opportunity, ignite innovation and grow well into the future.”
Leveraging the vast data and expertise of its heritage firms, Circana tracks millions of products spanning 2,000+ categories across 500,000+ stores in 20 countries, with insights powered by the industry’s most advanced technology platform, Liquid Data®. Today, Circana advises almost 7,000 brands and retailers worldwide.
Tod Johnson, chairman of Circana’s board of directors, added, “The combination of IRI and NPD created a category of one. In the months since the merger, we have demonstrated — for our clients and for our team — the immense value of bringing our firms together. Moving forward with a unified name and brand signifies that Circana is committed to delivering on the full value of our powerful combination for all of our stakeholders, with a relentless focus on innovation and growth.” The Circana brand was created in partnership with global brand consulting firm Landor & Fitch.
Management, Supported by Vestar Capital and Windhover Capital, Recapitalizes Titan Frozen Fruit, a Market-Leading Frozen Berry Processor and Ingredient Provider
NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Management and existing shareholders of Titan Frozen Fruit, along with Vestar Capital Partners, a leading U.S. middle market private equity firm, and Windhover Capital, a private equity firm focused on the food, beverage, pet and consumer sectors, jointly announced today that they have agreed to recapitalize Titan, a market-leading, value-added frozen berry processor and ingredient provider to the food and beverage industry. Titan's co-founders will retain a significant stake in the Company and will continue to serve in their respective positions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Santa Maria, CA, Titan is one of the country's leading and fastest-growing frozen berry processors, providing value-added frozen ingredients to a spectrum of industrial, foodservice and retail clients. Titan is at the forefront of innovation in the industry and offers a wide breadth of products that are critical elements to its customers' end products, which include smoothies, juices, ice cream, yogurt and jams.
"Our vision is to continue to build the next generation fruit processing and ingredients company, offering a wide variety of value-added and innovative products to our customers, and our partnership with Vestar and Windhover is the next step in that journey," said Jon Larsen, CEO and Co-Founder of Titan. "They are enthusiastically committed to our business strategy and will provide the financial backing, strategic thinking, industry relationships and track record needed to build on our momentum."
"Titan is a dynamic and well-managed business that has built a terrific service and innovation-driven reputation in the frozen berry and food ingredients sector. We are looking forward to partnering with the Titan team and Vestar to continue to drive supplier partnerships and market leadership through a collaborative and research-oriented approach to adding value," said Chris Harned, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Windhover. "We aspire to grow Titan significantly through internal expansion projects, diversification into related value-added food ingredients, complementary acquisitions and other partnerships."
Dan O'Connell, Founder and CEO of Vestar, said, "In a short period of time, Titan has disrupted the fruit processing and ingredient industry in large part due to the strength of the team. We are excited to partner with Windhover and Jon and the entire team at Titan to build on the Company's strong foundation, which is rooted in deep domain expertise, strong partnerships with growers and suppliers, and a relentless commitment to quality, reliability and innovation. Titan is at an attractive inflection point, and we believe that, in partnership with Windhover, we can help to augment and accelerate management's well-proven growth strategy."
Dorsey & Whitney LLP served as legal counsel and Cascadia Capital acted as financial advisor to Titan. Karr Tuttle Campbell served as legal counsel to Windhover. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Vestar.
About Titan Frozen Fruit
Based in Santa Maria, CA and founded in 2013, Titan is a market leader in frozen berry processing. The Company buys berries from a network of large commercial growers in California and Baja California and processes the berries into a variety of pack styles (aseptic and pasteurized purées, purée concentrate, thermal particulate, individual quick frozen and block quick frozen). Titan sells the processed berries to a diversified roster of food and beverage manufacturers, foodservice/QSRs and retail/club stores. For more information on Titan, please visit www.titanfrozen.com.
About Windhover Capital
Windhover Capital is a food, beverage, pet and consumer focused private equity firm based in Seattle, Milwaukee and New York. Windhover's strategy is to partner with management teams and owners to build strategic value, improve profitability and accelerate growth. For more information on Windhover, please visit www.windhovercap.com.
360training Acquires AdvanceOnline — Expanding Online Training Footprint with New DOT CMV Courses
AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — One of the leading Environmental, Health, and Safety online regulated training providers, 360training, has acquired AdvanceOnline. Through this acquisition, 360training continues to grow their OSHA Online Outreach program and expands their extensive library to include DOT transportation safety training courses, including CMV Driver and CMV Motor Carrier Management.
AdvanceOnline Solutions provides professional and educational environmental health and safety services to corporations, associations, and government agencies involved in the construction, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and utility industries.
AdvanceOnline offers high-quality online training. They were among the first to be accepted by the OSHA Outreach Program for issuing official DOL OSHA course completion cards. With over 120 courses in their catalog, AdvanceOnline is a welcome addition to the 360training family of companies.
Ryan Linders, CMO at 360training, adds, "The acquisition of AdvanceOnline demonstrates our commitment to continue to add high quality programs and brands to 360training. It presents a fantastic opportunity to expand our capabilities and market share in the Environmental, Health & Safety industry vertical and opens the door for us to offer complimentary courses and products, available under the 360training brand, to our corporate customers, Affiliates, and Resellers."
AdvanceOnline History
AdvanceOnline provides exceptional e-Learning and video-based content to help companies comply with federal health and safety regulations, including OSHA Outreach titles like OSHA 10-Hour Construction, OSHA 30-Hour Construction, OSHA 10-Hour General. They are one of a few companies with authorization from OSHA to provide these courses and offer NYC (New York City) Site-Safety Training. Their DOT content was developed in conjunction with the Department of Transportation. "AdvanceOnline aligns perfectly with 360training's goal to provide engaging and comprehensive training programs that prevent workplace injury and enhances public safety." Samantha Montalbano, COO of 360training.
Acquisition by 360training
360training is focused on accelerating growth in support of its mission to provide enhanced training solutions across regulated markets. The acquisition of AdvanceOnline aligns with that mission because the two companies share similar goals.
"The synergy between 360training and AdvanceOnline makes sense. AdvanceOnline was founded to help companies comply with strict health and safety regulations which echoes 360training's mission of enabling a safe environment through regulatory training. By joining together, we're able to enhance workplace safety for communities across the nation." Tom Anderson, CEO of 360training.
About AdvanceOnline
Headquartered in Houston, TX, AdvanceOnline Solutions provides professional and educational environmental health and safety services to corporations, associations, and government agencies involved in the construction, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and utility industries. With over 75 years of collective experience in safety training development, delivery and consulting, their team develops high-quality, affordable web-based and classroom training for students and corporations to maintain and exceed compliance to government, industry, and company defined safety standards and requirements.
About 360training
Since 1997, 360training.com, Inc. provides individuals and businesses with online regulatory-approved training, facilitating a safe, healthy environment for their communities. We have delivered over 11 million training plans across multiple brands, including 360training, Meditec, AgentCampus, VanEd, OSHAcampus, OSHA.com, TIPS, and Learn2Serve. Please visit www.360training.com or their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more.
Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Appoints Steve Polonowski as Chief Customer Officer
Elmwood Park, NJ – December 21, 2022 – Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods (“Dr. Praeger’s” or the “Company”), a leading brand specializing in delicious, nutritious plant-based frozen foods made from simple ingredients, announced today that Steve Polonowski has joined the Company as Chief Customer Officer. Dr. Praeger’s is a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners.
“Steve brings an impressive track record of building health-oriented brands through strategic customer partnerships and building strong teams. His diverse experience with better-for-you brands in different categories, customers and channels will be a huge asset for the team at Dr. Praeger’s,” said Dr. Praeger’s CEO Andy Reichgut.
Mr. Polonowski has worked at global, industry leading consumer packaged goods companies including PepsiCo and Glanbia Performance Nutrition, and most recently at smaller brands such as Amazing Grass, Simple Mills and BetterBrand. In his most recent position, he served as President and Chief Commercial Officer at BetterBrand, where he partnered with the founder to build an emerging and disruptive brand in the marketplace. Prior to that, he was the Chief Sales Officer for Simple Mills, another Vestar portfolio company. Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Michigan State University.
“I am incredibly excited to join Andy and the Dr. Praeger's team to accelerate growth of this fantastic brand,” said Mr. Polonowski. “We are uniquely positioned to help consumers eat healthier by simply making veggies into great tasting and convenient food."
About Dr. Praeger’s
For over 25 years, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods has offered delicious and convenient frozen food options for the whole family. Founded by two heart surgeons determined to make healthy food easily accessible, Dr. Praeger’s is a leader in the all-natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and kosher frozen food categories and has a wide range of products including Veggie Burgers, Bowls, Cakes, Puffs and Hash Browns, sustainable Seafood items, kids Littles and more. For more information visit www.drpraegers.com.
About Vestar Capital Partners
Vestar Capital Partners is a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams and private owners to build long-term enterprise value, with a focus on Consumer, Business & Technology Services, and Healthcare. Since inception in 1988, Vestar funds have invested $11 billion in 90 companies – as well as more than 200 add-on acquisitions – with a total value of approximately $52 billion. For more information on Vestar, please visit www.vestarcapital.com.
Stratus Acquires San Antonio-based Comet Signs
CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 07, 2022-- Stratus, the leading facilities services and brand implementation services firm, today announced the acquisition of Comet Signs, based in San Antonio, Texas. The combined organization now consists of over 1,100 employees throughout the United States.
With the acquisition of Comet Signs, Stratus will accelerate its growth in the Southwest and Western United States, leveraging Comet's substantial presence in key Texas areas including Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Tyler. Comet's expanded production capabilities and self-perform installation fleet will begin to serve Stratus' roster of blue-chip, nationwide brands in the region, and will help the company grow its overall business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Comet acquisition represents Stratus' third major acquisition since late 2019.
"Our teams immediately melded with each other -- we have a shared value system and strong beliefs in nurturing customer relationships and growth over time," noted Tim Eippert, CEO, Stratus. "Comet's reputation is stellar, and they've been careful and purposeful about growth, including hiring practices and employee satisfaction and retention."
Founded in 1958, Comet Signs, has expanded over time through organic growth and a series of mergers and acquisitions, and has become known as a leading exterior branding resource in the region. The company occupies a 180,000 square foot state-of-the-art production facility at its San Antonio headquarters, with an additional 70,000+ square feet of operations in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Tyler, Texas.
"When Tim and I were getting to know each other, I could immediately picture myself and my team working side-by-side with Stratus," said Pete Sitterle, CEO, Comet Signs. "At Comet, we have grown by taking very good care of our customers. Tim and Stratus share that approach, the customer is always at the center of their minds. That's why this is such a great fit. We look forward to our customers taking advantage of everything Stratus has to offer, and we look forward to personally servicing Stratus' customers all across Texas."
Headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, Stratus has operations centers in Illinois, Ohio, Florida and New Jersey, and production facilities in Illinois and South Carolina. Stratus is a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners.
About Stratus
Stratus is a leading brand implementation and facilities services company offering signage solutions, energy services, repair and maintenance programs, and refresh and remodel capabilities across 50 states and 24 countries. With more than 50,000 projects completed annually, the Company provides versatile solutions for some of the world's largest and most recognized brands. Stratus is a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners. For more information, please visit www.stratusunlimited.com.
Nox Health Announces Strategic Investment from Vestar Capital to Accelerate Growth
ATLANTA and NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nox Health (or the “Company”), the global sleep health leader, announced today a strategic growth investment from Vestar Capital Partners, a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm. The investment will help Nox accelerate development of its sleep diagnostic technology and services, and adoption of its value-based comprehensive sleep management solutions for employers and health plans. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
“We are delighted to welcome Vestar as a strategic investment partner to help us accelerate our growth. We were looking for a partner with relevant and credible experience and found it in Vestar,” said Nox Health CEO Sigurjon Kristjansson. “Today’s fee for service healthcare economy places the onus on the consumer to navigate a gated health care experience — especially detrimental to sleep health. At Nox, we enable a consumer-centric experience, leveraging our state-of-the-art technology portfolio and value-based sleep management solutions to simplify access, reduce costs and improve health outcomes.”
“Lack of sleep is a silent killer. Sleep disorders are comorbid with seven of the 15 leading causes of death,” said Roger Holstein, Managing Director at Vestar Capital Partners. “Nox is not only a global leader in the science of sleep diagnostics, but it has also created a value-based, comprehensive sleep care management program which fulfills all the objectives of the healthcare ‘Triple Aim’ — a frictionless member experience, with demonstrated health outcomes at a measurably lower cost. We are excited to partner with Sigurjon and the entire Nox team to accelerate the Company’s mission and help millions of people wake up to a brighter world.”
“Sleep is an attractive healthcare category with sustainable long-term growth tailwinds and significant unmet demand,” said Mike Vaupen, Managing Director at Vestar Capital Partners. “Nox has built a differentiated and market-leading set of diagnostic devices, workflow software, and value-based care management services that support a patient’s entire sleep care journey. We look forward to supporting the Company in its next phase of growth.”
Canaccord Genuity served as financial advisor to Nox Health, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP acted as its legal counsel. Solomon Partners served as financial advisor to Vestar, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel.
About Nox Health
Nox Health is a global sleep health leader on a mission to improve the health of populations through better sleep. Every year, more than three million people in 50 countries benefit from Nox products and services. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and with operations in Reykjavík, Iceland and Denver, Colorado, Nox provides a range of solutions from comprehensive sleep diagnostic technology for providers to value-based comprehensive sleep management programs for self-insured employers and payers. For more information on Nox, please visit www.noxhealth.com.
Vestar Capital Partners Named to Inc.'s 2022 List of Founder-Friendly Investors
NEW YORK, Oct. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestar Capital Partners, a leading U.S. private equity firm, today announced that it has been named to Inc.'s 2022 Founder-Friendly Investors list honoring the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track records of successfully backing entrepreneurs.
The list recognizes firms that entrepreneurs can trust and collaborate with while receiving the financial and strategic support they need to help accelerate growth. All the firms on the Inc. list have successful track records of remaining actively involved with the businesses in which they invest.
"Vestar is proud to once again be recognized by Inc. for our commitment to supporting founders as they unlock the growth potential within their businesses," said Dan O'Connell, Founder and CEO of Vestar. "Founders have many options when seeking a capital partner; working with a recognized firm that offers operational expertise, relationships, and a long-term perspective can be critical in achieving sustainable growth. Vestar is proud of our 30+ year track record of partnering with management to invest for growth, and we are eager to meet new entrepreneurs who can benefit from our partnership."
Vestar has invested nearly $3 billion in more than 25 founder- and family-owned companies since its inception in 1988, and its current portfolio consists of 10 founder-led businesses across Consumer, Business & Technology Services and Healthcare.
"Fully investing in an entrepreneur, and their innovative vision, involves far more than the financial investment. By developing relationships with and supporting entrepreneurs for the long-term, these private equity firms are more than investors, they're partners," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. media.
Inc. compiled its list by surveying founders who have sold to private equity and venture capital about their experiences partnering with the firms, and examining data on how portfolio companies have grown during these partnerships.
Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods Appoints John Sayour as Chief Financial Officer
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods ("Dr. Praeger's" or the "Company"), a fast-growing brand specializing in delicious, nutritious plant-based frozen foods made from simple ingredients, announced that John Sayour has joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Praeger's is a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners.
"John brings over 30 years of diverse and progressive finance experience working for consumer goods companies. His deep experience with supply chain initiatives, his passion for developing talent, and his insights and analytics capabilities will be tremendous assets for the organization as we look to take advantage of strong tailwinds in the better-for-you food category," said Dr. Praeger's CEO, Andy Reichgut.
Mr. Sayour joins Dr. Praeger's from Blue Triton Brands, where he was Chief Transformation Officer and CFO of Supply Chain. Prior to that, he capped 22 years at Nestlé Waters as Vice President and CFO of Supply Chain. He was previously Director of Financial Reporting and Corporate Accounting at Fortune Brands, and he began his career as a Senior Auditor for Arthur Young. He holds a master's degree in finance and international business from the University of Connecticut School of Business and a bachelor's degree in accounting and computer science from SUNY University at Albany.
"Dr. Praeger's is uniquely positioned for success with an impressive portfolio of great tasting and health-sensible products, and I am very excited to be part of this talented team," said Mr. Sayour. "I look forward to working with Andy and the Dr. Praeger's team to find new ways to support the continued growth of the Company."
About Dr. Praeger's
For over 25 years, Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods has offered delicious and convenient frozen food options for the whole family. Founded by two heart surgeons determined to make healthy food easily accessible, Dr. Praeger's is a leader in the all-natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and kosher frozen food categories and has a wide range of products including Veggie Burgers, Bowls, Cakes, Puffs and Hash Browns, sustainable Seafood items, kids Littles and more. For more information visit www.drpraegers.com.
Pet Honesty Appoints Steve Chopp as Chief Financial Officer
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet Honesty, a trusted leader in premium pet health products, announced that Steve Chopp has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer. Pet Honesty is a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners.
Mr. Chopp brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles at high-growth, health and nutrition companies. Most recently, he served as CFO and COO for Bragg Live Food Products, the number one brand of apple cider vinegar, where he oversaw the finance, supply chain, and technology functions. Additionally, Mr. Chopp spent more than 15 years working in the rapid growth supplements industry, including eight years at Pharmavite, the makers of Nature Made vitamins and supplements, where he served as EVP and CFO. He also held senior roles in consulting with L.E.K. Consulting and Stern Stewart & Co. Mr. Chopp holds an MBA from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and a B.S. in finance from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
"Steve is an accomplished leader with broad experience developing and executing high-impact strategies. He will be an invaluable asset as we continue our mission to elevate pet vitality to deliver more joyful moments for pet parents," said Richard Greenberg, CEO of Pet Honesty.
"As Pet Honesty's recent partnership with Petco illustrates, the Company is on a strong growth trajectory, and I look forward to partnering with the senior team during this exciting time as the Company continues to expand and deliver on its strategic plan," said Mr. Chopp.
About Pet Honesty
Pet Honesty, a trusted leader in premium, natural pet health products, is on a mission to help pet parents elevate their pet's vitality for more joyful moments together. Founded originally as an innovative e-commerce brand in 2018 and headquartered in Austin, TX, the company specializes in vet-approved pet supplements made with natural base ingredients and premium active ingredients, providing functional pet health benefits backed by science and certified by the NASC. Pet Honesty products are formulated in an FDA registered facility in the U.S.A. and available for purchase online at Pethonesty.com, Amazon, Chewy, Petco.com, and at Petco retail stores nationwide and select neighborhood pet retailers. For personalized guidance and education about Pet Honesty products, visit Pethonesty.com and follow @PetHonesty on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
About Vestar Capital Partners
Vestar Capital Partners is a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams and private owners to build long-term enterprise value, with a focus on Consumer, Business & Technology Services and Healthcare. Since inception in 1988, Vestar funds have invested $11 billion in 89 companies – as well as more than 200 add-on acquisitions – with a total value of approximately $52 billion. For more information on Vestar, please visit www.vestarcapital.com.
Vestar Capital Partners Announces Promotions
NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vestar Capital Partners, a leading U.S. private equity firm, announced today the promotions of several investment professionals at the firm. The promotions include Neil Merchant, Mark Dirzulaitis, and Angela Yun to Principal, and Alex Veronneau to Vice President.
"We congratulate Neil, Mark, Angela and Alex on their promotions in recognition of their impressive growth, development and meaningful contributions to the Firm," said Dan O'Connell, Founder and CEO of Vestar. "We are fortunate to have such talented and resourceful young professionals who subscribe to our core values of hard work, creativity, transparency and teamwork."
Mr. Merchant, a member of the Firm's Business & Technology Services group, joined Vestar in 2018. He previously worked at Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe focusing on healthcare and technology investments. Mr. Merchant holds both a BS in Economics, cum laude, and an MBA in Finance and Management, with Honors, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Dirzulaitis, a member of the Firm's Business & Technology Services group, joined Vestar in 2019. Prior to Vestar, he worked at American Securities where he focused on private equity investments across a variety of sectors. Mr. Dirzulaitis began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he focused on growth equity investments in technology companies. He received a joint BA / MA from Johns Hopkins University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and an MBA with Honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Yun, a member of the Firm's Consumer group, joined Vestar in 2019. Previously, she worked at Alliance Consumer Growth, a consumer- and retail-focused growth equity firm. Ms. Yun began her career in the Leveraged Finance Group and Financial Sponsors Group at Wells Fargo Securities. She holds a BS in Economics, cum laude, from Duke University, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Veronneau joined Vestar in 2019 after previously working as an Analyst in the Consumer & Retail Investment Banking Group at J.P. Morgan. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree with first class honors from McGill University.