US-based middle-market private equity firm Highlander Partners has acquired organic, sugar-free and traditional confection products maker Hillside Candy for undisclosed sum.
Hillside’s brands include GoOrganic, GoLightly, Pick Your Color and Hillside Sweets.
Its product are sold directly and through distributors to grocery and drugstore chains, mass merchandisers, club stores, gourmet retailers, gift companies and other channels domestically and internationally.
GoOrganic offers hard candies in a variety of flavors, including Ginger, Pomegranate, Cherry, Apple, Honey, Honey Lemon, Blood Orange, Iced Mint Mango, Ginger Xtreme, Starlight Mints and Assorted Fruit.
GoOrganic products are available in stores of Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Natural Grocers, Fairway Market, Wakefern/Shoprite, Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Hannaford's, Sweet Bay, Earth Fare, and other retailers.
Besides, the company incorporates nutraceutical ingredients into confectionery delivery systems, a growing trend in the nutraceutical space.
The GoLightly brand is one of the first sugar-free confection brands, offering more than 30 unique flavors.
Hillside chairman and Highlander partner Alex Guiva said: "GoOrganic and GoLightly are exceptional brands that deliver high-quality, clean label and mouth-watering products. It is no secret that retailers dedicate more and more shelf space to organic and sugar-free products and these trends are here to stay.”
Pick Your Color and Hillside Candy brands offers sugar-based hard candy with over 20 flavors, serving the needs of specialty retailers and hospitality customers.
Highlander Partners said that Hillside’s production facility is SQF Level 3 certified.
It manufactures all its products in the US with a focus on no artificial flavors, preservatives or colors.
Hillside claims to have organic, kosher and non-GMO certifications.
Guiva said: “We are excited to partner with a leading organic and sugar-free company in the confection space, and we will continue Hillside's business strategy of innovation, creativity, flexibility and customer service.
“In addition to growing its existing base of business, Hillside will serve as a platform for future strategic acquisitions that will expand our offerings, sales channels and scale."
In January, Highlander Partners acquired 60% of QFG, a leading Polish convenience food producer.
The company said that the capital increase will be invested in expanding QFG’s production, including the development of QFG’s third plant in central Poland.
