USA – Altair Acquisitions, an alternative asset investment firm has acquired all of the material assets of Wildtree, a manufacturer of organic and allergen-sensitive spices, oils, mixes, sauces, and meal replacement products, for an undisclosed sum.
Wildtree was originally founded in 1999 and has been providing flavorful, healthy, all-natural products and meal solutions to customers for more than two decades.
Following the company’s take over by Altair, the investment firm said that it does not intend to relocate Wildtree’s current headquarters and manufacturing and will therefore continue to operate in Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA.
Altair said that the purchase will allow Wildtree to grow its product offerings and expand into new markets where customers seek gluten-free, low-sugar, vegetarian, kosher and organic options.
“The timing is perfect for an investment in an organization like Wildtree,” said Erik Toth, Chief Executive Officer of Altair Acquisitions.
“Consumers are increasingly focused on healthful eating, and Wildtree makes it easier to provide these options to their families every day.”
Wildtree’s product line includes spice blends, seasonings, rubs, sauces, marinades, oils, and dressings – most of which the company claims are certified organic, non-GMO or kosher.
Erik added that the company is also “benefiting substantially from the trend towards subscription-based product delivery and online retailing of innovative food products.” “We plan to leverage that in significant ways,” he said.
Commenting on the acquisition, Michael Gilkenson, Chief Operating Officer of Wildtree said: “We couldn’t be more excited about having the Wildtree brand and its products as part of the Altair portfolio of companies.
“For over 20 years, Wildtree has given health-conscious families nutritious options to make mealtime special by staying true to our ingredient transparency philosophy.
“With Altair’s investment, the organization will continue its presence in the market and can look to a future of innovation and growth.”
Going foward, Tracy Williams, Chief Investment Officer of Altair said that the company’s plan includes partnering with with legacy sales representatives and customers that will effectively build the business.
According to Tracy, this will be instrumental in ensuring the continuity of the business as well as culturing the company’s excellence that has been a hallmark of Wildtree’s product offering and customer experience model for many years.
“The value creation opportunity for the company’s new investors is substantial due to the thoughtful deployment of growth capital, alongside the expansion of historical revenue streams and diversification of Wildtree’s distribution outlets,” Tracy said.
