Gourmet News

Nassau Candy, Stier Family to Be Honored at Golf Classic

Published July 22, 2024

Pictured from left to right: Garrett Stier, Lance Stier, Rachel Stier, Samantha Stier, Allison Stier, Travis Stier, Les Stier, Shirley Stier, Blake Stier and Spencer Stier. Photo courtesy of the Stier family.

Nassau Candy, leading manufacturer of specialty and private label confections and its founders, the Stier family, will be honored at the Sunrise Association’s 18th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic on Aug. 5.

This honor is being bestowed on Nassau Candy and the Stier Family, Les and Shirley, their sons and their wives Lance and Rachel, Garrett and Samantha, Travis and Allison, and Spencer and Blake for their tireless support of Sunrise Day Camp – Long Island, a free camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

“As a family-run business, family is at the heart of everything we do,” said Les Stier, founder and CEO of Nassau Candy. “That’s why Sunrise Day Camp – Long Island and their mission to help bring joy to the lives of children with cancer and their families is so important to us. We and Nassau Candy are honored to be recognized for our support of this wonderful organization.”

The Sunrise Association aims to bring joy to the lives of children with cancer and their siblings through their day camps, in-hospital programs, and year-round programming. By offering day camps, children can still receive the ongoing medical treatment they need, while being with their families at night. All programs are offered 100 percent free of charge.

Nassau Candy and the Stier family are continuing to raise money and are close to their goal of $1.2 million for the organization.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Stier Family and Nassau Candy,” said Arnie Preminger, president and CEO of the Sunrise Association. “Their dedication and generosity have made a profound impact on the lives of countless children and their families. Being honored at the 18th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic is a testament to their commitment to bringing joy and hope to children facing the challenges of cancer. They truly embody the spirit of Sunrise Day Camp.”

The 18th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic will take place at The Seawane Club, Rockaway Hunting Club and Hempstead Golf & Country Club. Along with golf there will also be opportunities to play tennis and pickleball, cards and games. There will also be shopping opportunities and lunch, dinner and cocktails.

For more information on the 18th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic, the Sunrise Association, and how to donate or purchase tickets, please visit, www.levinegolfouting.org.

Details

Event: 18th Annual Mildred & Samuel Levine Memorial Golf Classic
Date: Aug. 5
Locations: The Seawane Club, Hewlett Harbor, N.Y.
Rockaway Hunting Club, Lawrence, N.Y.
Hempstead Golf & Country Club, Hempstead, N.Y.

Nassau Candy is a wholesale manufacturer, importer, and distributor of confectionery and gourmet food products. Along with distribution of thousands of sweets and snacks to retailers across the country, the company also specializes in manufacturing and importing private label confectionery, and manufactures, develops, and merchandises customized souvenir, food, apparel, and promotional products.

From its six strategically located distribution centers in New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and California (San Francisco and Los Angeles), and two manufacturing facilities, the company manufactures and distributes more than 10,000 products to thousands of customers ranging from the largest retailers in North America, to thousands of independent confectionery stores, corporate, foodservice, grocery, and alternative market customers.

The mission of the Sunrise Association is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings worldwide. Sunrise accomplishes this through the creation and oversight of welcoming, inclusive summer day camps, year-round programs and in-hospital recreational activities, all offered free of charge. Learn more at sunriseassociation.org.

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Legacy Food Group Hires Laurie Bergman as CFO

Published July 22, 2024

Legacy Food Group has hired Laurie Bergman, a highly experienced financial executive, as chief financial officer.

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Bergman has a proven track record of success in both private equity-backed and public companies, with significant accomplishments in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and financial operations.

In her previous roles as CFO of Liquid Environmental Solutions, a leading provider of turnkey solutions for non-hazardous liquid waste management, as well as her many leadership roles at UGI Corporation, a fortune 500 energy marketer, Bergman oversaw finance-related activities, including growth strategy, corporate financing, and managing the relationship with the private equity sponsor and corporate boards. Both LES and UGI successfully integrated numerous acquisitions, many of which were family-owned regional businesses.

“I am delighted to join this innovative platform, which is built on the foundation of successful, long-standing operators. Their expertise and commitment to excellence are the backbone of our business. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to our growth and success in a dynamic and important industry.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Laurie as our new chief financial officer,” said Steve Push, CEO of LFG. “Laurie has a tremendous background in finance, strategic growth, and value creation. She understands the foodservice industry with her strong prior experience, and her proven track record in mergers and acquisitions, finance, and strategic planning make her an invaluable addition to our leadership team.”

Bergman holds a master of business administration and a bachelor of business administration from Temple University. She is a certified public accountant and a certified management accountant. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Arq Inc. and QNB Corporation, bringing her expertise to audit and strategic planning committees.

Bergman’s hire reinforces Legacy Food Group’s commitment to investing in a world class leadership ream, and to driving growth and operational excellence for its divisions through strong financial leadership. Her experience in M & A, corporate financing, and strategic initiatives will be crucial as LFG continues to expand its footprint to new markets and acquire new divisions.

Legacy Food Group is a holding company created to acquire high-quality regional independent distributors that will become owned operating divisions. By knitting together multiple distributors, Legacy Food Group will achieve macro-scale with micro-market nimbleness, preserving the differences that work for independents while achieving synergies that can greatly benefit members.

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Refresco Acquires Plant-Based Drinks Maker Frías

Published July 22, 2024

Refresco, a global independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and global, national, and emerging (GNE) brands in Europe, North America and Australia, has entered into an agreement to acquire Frías Nutrición from Alantra Private Equity and the founding family. This transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Frías is a leading manufacturer of plant-based drinks with a production facility located in Burgos, Spain and employs around 250 people. Frías produces private label plant-based drinks, including almond, rice, hazelnut, and soy drinks, for key Spanish retailers and beyond.

CEO Refresco, Hans Roelofs, commented: “As part of our proven Buy & Build strategy, we are looking to expand our capabilities in existing and adjacent beverage categories. The acquisition of Frías significantly strengthens our position in the fast-growing plant-based drinks category. It complements our existing footprint in Spain with a production facility solely dedicated to plant-based products.

“In addition, acquiring Frías enables us to further expand our service offering to retailers and branded customers and retailers across Europe, accelerates our product innovation capabilities in the plant-based drinks category, and underscores our ability to capture opportunities in the market.”

Bruno Delgado-Luque, partner ,Alantra Private Equity, added: “Since we acquired Frías in 2019, the company has been on a remarkable growth trajectory, confirming its leadership position in the Iberian Peninsula, and expanding its international business. Together with the Frías family, we launched a major investment plan that resulted in the creation of one of the most modern and efficient plant-based drinks factories in Europe. We are confident that Frías has a bright future ahead and will continue its successful growth with the support of Refresco.”

Transaction highlights

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
Closing of the transaction is expected later this year.
The financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and global, national and emerging brands with production in Europe, North America and Australia. Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans and glass. Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities and market demand. Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 14,500 employees.

Alantra Private Equity is a pioneer in the Iberian private equity market with more than 30 years of experience and investments of c. €2.0bn. It has a unique and proven track record in the food and beverage, healthcare, and industrial technology sectors throughout different economic cycles. Since 1990, Alantra Private Equity has led investments in more than 120 assets (60 platforms and 65 add-ons) and has completed more than 50 exits.

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