- Justin "Duke" Havlick. Meanwhile, San Francisco-based private equity firm Encore Consumer Capital has invested in Boulder, Colo.-based Thanasi Foods, parent of Duke's Jerky. Thanasi Foods LLC is a leading maker of premium meat snacks, including Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages and Duke's Brisket & Steak Strips. about 2.5 servings per container . Conagra's iconic brands, such as Marie Callender's, Reddi-wip, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher's, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia, Blake's and Frontera, offer choices for every occasion. For more information please visit www.EncoreConsumerCapital.com. Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP served as legal counsel to Thanasi Foods LLC and BIGS LLC. Financial terms were not disclosed. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. It's no wonder why hatch chiles have become famous through the decades. The ale is a perfect balance between malt and hops, providing an approachable accompanimentwith a restrained sweet aftertaste. No liquid smoke. There is no assurance that the potential transaction will be consummated, and there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. Their brands include Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages and Bigs Sunflower Seeds. The division was developing a fleet of one-armed robots on wheels to handle menial tasks. For more information, visit www.BIGS.com. Encore Consumer Capital, a private equity firm that invests exclusively in leading consumer products companies, has completed the sale of Thanasi Foods, marketer of the Duke' s and BIGS snack brands, to Conagra Brands, one of North America' s leading branded food companies. Slow dried with no nitrites added (except for those naturally occurring in sea salt and celery powder). Freshly crafted. The buyer is Justin "Duke" Havlick, president and CEO of Boulder-based Thanasi Foods, which sells Frank's Redhot Beef Jerky, Jim Beam Beef Jerky, Stubbs BBQ Beef Jerky, Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages, Duke's Beef Steak Strips and Bigs Sunflower Seeds. The firm targets companies with between $10 million and $100 million in annual revenues where Encores strong operating expertise in strategy development, brand marketing and distribution expansion can help drive performance. Conagra Brands, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Havlick continued, "The Conagra Brands team values our brand beliefs and is committed to continuing to use quality ingredients and the craft methods that deliver the creativity and flavor our consumers and fans love today.". 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CAG) VMG Partners, a PE firm based in San Francisco and Los Angeles that invests in natural and organic food companies, took a stake in Hinesburg, Vt.-based VSC Holdings Inc. VSC makes various smoked and cured meats under the Vermont Smoke and Cure brand. The presenters were Justin "Duke" Havlick (Duke's Small Batch Smoked Meats), Mike Lawinski (FATE Brewing Company), and Jason Oliver (Devils Backbone Brewing Company). The Art of Pairing Craft Beer and Jerky Justin Duke Havlick, Duke's Small Batch Smoked Meats; Mike Lawinski, FATE Brewing Company; Jason Oliver, Devils. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Sales price valid from 11/22/2022 until 3/3/2023. This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to document.getElementById("eeb-49608-174680").innerHTML = eval(decodeURIComponent("%27%69%6e%66%6f%40%65%6e%63%6f%72%65%63%6f%6e%73%75%6d%65%72%63%61%70%69%74%61%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%27"))*protected email*. call The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Thanasi was founded in 2004 by Justin "Duke" Havlick. CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. Justin "Duke" Havlick, Duke's and BIGS founder and chief executive officer, said, "What started 13 years ago as a simple passion for fire roasting seeds and slow smoking meats, has grown into two terrific brands that are recognized in households across the U.S. CraftBeer.com is written by beer lovers for beer lovers. Justin 'Duke' Havlick of Duke's Jerky. Their jerky is advertised to be made in small batches, and is smoked using real hardwoods, not "liquid lumber" in their words. Chicken, bison, beef, pork and turkey are used in their products. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. And trust us, they are nothing less than craft perfection! Approaches to engineer recombinant capsids for . The company's product line includes not only meat bars, with flavors such as bison bacon cranberry, but also meat bites, meat bits and hunt-and-harvest mix. Sign up and we will deliver our newsletter to your inbox highlighting our latest and greatest stories. Justin Duke Havlick. BIGS partners with some of America's most-loved brands to bring big, bold flavor to seeds. Havlick noted that an exit for Thanasi was not on any specific time clock, but after meeting with Conagra he was impressed by the passion of both the company and its CEO, Sean Connolly. Lastly, Salisbury, Md.-based poultry producer Perdue Farms Inc. bought Natural Food Holdings Inc. from White Plains, N.Y., PE firm LNK Partners LLC in early September. Duke's Meat Snacks Recall establishment, is recalling approximately 191,928 pounds of ready-to-eat pork sausage products . Justin "Duke" Havlick, Duke's and BIGS founder and chief executive officer: "What started 13 years ago as a simple passion for fire roasting seeds and slow smoking meats, has grown into two terrific brands that are recognized in households across the United States." Terms of the deal were not disclosed but Thanasi founder Justin Duke Havlick, along with his 64 employees, will remain on with Boulder, Colo.-based company. Are you sure you want to delete your account? 3. Justin "Duke" Havlick, Duke's and BIGS founder and CEO, said, "What started 13 years ago as a simple passion for fire roasting seeds and slow smoking meats, has grown into two terrific brands that are recognized in households across the U.S. This unique combination creates a robust harmony between the herbal and spice notes of both beer and jerky. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. Conagra Brands currently manages the Slim Jim meat stick brand and the DAVID Seeds brand. This batch was freshly crafted with Roasted Hatch Chiles. TheStreet's Jim Cramer has long approved of the move by established food companies such as General Mills into more natural and organic products. 1. Dukes Cracked Pepper Beef Jerky & Left Hand Black Jack Porter. It's not the easiest way to do things, or the quickest, but I think you'll agree you can taste the difference. will Havlick founded the company 13 years ago with investment from friends and family. Pork raised with no hormones added (Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in pork). This is an incredibly exciting time for our brands and our team, and we are looking . Focused on crafting the highest-quality smoked meat snacks available, the family-operated business refuses to take shortcuts and is committed to producing its products in small batches with real, whole ingredients, fresh never-frozen pork and chicken, 100% grass-fed beef, and authentic hardwood smoke pairings. Products distributed by Thanasi Foods are available in approximately 45,000 supermarkets, convenience stores, grocery stores, and drug stores in the United States and Canada. Visit our updated, This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approval, and is expected to close summer 2017. Your information will be erased and your published posts will be reassigned to the site's admin account. the I believe smoked meats should be made with real ingredients. Food giant General Mills (GIS) - Get Free Report said Wednesday it is buying Epic Provisions, an Austin, Texas-based maker of meat bars. Havlick told NOSH that hes excited to join the Conagra family both personally and professionally. The smooth, malty sweetness of the Milk Stout balances the smoky bourbon glaze, leaving your palatewith a velvety mouthful, perfect for a night by the fire. Ideally, you want to start by tasting the jerky first, smelling the aroma of the beer and then taking a sip, letting the flavors settle on your tongue. His love of smoked meats really kicked into high gear when a neighbor gave him an old backyard smoker. Conagras iconic brands, such as Marie Callenders, Reddi-wip, Hunts, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbachers, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia, Blakes and Frontera, offer choices for every occasion. Interestingly, the spiciness of the jerky is toned down by the pale ale, and finishes with a unique taste of molasses and brown sugarnicely setting your palateup for round two. Thanasi Foods is a marketer of protein-based snacking products under the Dukes meat snacks and BIGS seeds brands. Our database of leading suppliers and service providers for the food and beverage industries. Thanasi was founded in 2004 by Justin "Duke" Havlick. A new video series from Manufacturing.net - Security Breach, looks to offer the insight and tools needed to ready your company's defenses. As he grew older, Duke grew tired of the low-quality beef jerky that's often found in grocery stores and set out to start his own brand of premium meat snacks. But theres much that Thanasi can bring to Conagra as well. Justin "Duke" Havlick, Duke's and BIGS founder and chief executive officer, said, "What started 13 years ago as a simple passion for fire roasting seeds and slow smoking meats, has grown into two terrific brands that are recognized in households across the U.S. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members. Encore invested as a minority partner in Thanasi Foods in 2015 to provide liquidity to some of the company's early investors. The valley's cooler climate helps our local farmer friends produce chiles with an . With the investment, more than 265 jobs will be retained across all three plants. BASF to Shed 2,600 Jobs in Cost-Cutting Drive. While terms of the transaction were not disclosed, a source previously told The Deal the purchase price would likely be about $100 million. a Skip to main content. BOULDER Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE: CAG) has agreed to acquire Thanasi Foods LLC, maker of Duke's meat snacks, and BIGS LLC, maker of BIGS seeds. BTW, Duke's Shorty is delicious as well, although it was not part of the . U. p until 2007 or so, the jerky and snack meat market was mostly shared between four major players. The firm has raised over $600 million in equity capital and invested in 25 companies. Jones Day served as legal counsel to Conagra Brands, Inc. TBC is pleased to announce the launching of TBC ESG Academy. Duke's Grass-Fed Beef Brisket Sea Salt & Pepper . - Justin Duke Havlick. Boeing Plans to End Production of 'Top Gun' Plane in 2025. Conagra Brands has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire protein-based snacking businesses Thanasi Foods (Thanasi), maker of Duke's meat snacks, and BIGS, maker of BIGS seeds. The one possible email address for Justin is jhavlick@gmail.com. [1] The company was acquired by Conagra Brands in 2017. 5. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. This is another exciting step in our ongoing efforts to reshape our portfolio to be more premium and modern, said Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands. - Justin Duke Havlick. host For more information, visit www.BIGS.com. 312-549-5355 Now, across the US around 300 craft jerky makers . San Francisco, CA 94111 We add chopped cilantro leaves and lime juice to our traditional chorizo seasoning blend for an authentic, freshly-made street taco flavor. Now, see where he invests his money and why. Join Facebook to connect with Justin Duke and others you may know. Dukes Spicy Bar-B-Q Beef Brisket Strips & Left Hand Stranger Pale Ale. Their brands include Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages and Bigs Sunflower Seeds. View the profiles of people named Justin Duke. Smoked meats. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding expected synergies and benefits of a potential combination of Conagra Brands and Thanasi and BIGS, expectations about future business plans, prospective performance and opportunities, regulatory approvals and the expected timing of the completion of the transaction. General Mills said Epic will become part of its Berkeley, Calif.-based Annie's division, which is headed by John Foraker, that unit's president. The decision could signal a sea change in the auto industry. The general rule of pairing beer and jerky is to start with the milder items and work your way up to the bolder flavors. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and . "There's something really special about reading ingredients on a product you love and realizing that almost every ingredient used is one you probably have in your own pantry. Financial terms were not disclosed. BIGS partners with some of America's most iconic and loved ingredient brands to bring big, bold flavors to its seeds. Duke has raised the steaks The roots go deep on this meat. Conagra Just log in using your Google, Facebook or Twitter account and fill out a quick form to share your latest and greatest with craft beer fans across the country. webcast Conagra Brands, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire protein-based snacking businesses Thanasi Foods LLC, maker of Duke's meat snacks, and BIGS LLC, maker of BIGS seeds. San Francisco, CA 94111 at dukesmeat.com. Financial terms were not disclosed. We undertake no responsibility for updating these statements. Dukes is a fast-growing premium meat snack brand, with products including Dukes Smoked Shorty Sausages and Dukes Steak & Brisket Strips. The startup will also lay off 300 employees. Founded by Justin "Duke" Havlick, Thanasi. Based in Boulder, CO, BIGS produces a line of premium, USA-grown seed snacks, including jumbo, fire-roasted in-shell sunflower seeds, sunflower seed kernels, and homestyle-roasted pumpkin seeds. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Marie Callender's, Reddi-wip, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher's, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia, Blake's and Frontera, offer choices for every occasion. Conagra Brands, Inc. All Rights Reserved. BIGS partners with some of Americas most-loved brands to bring big, bold flavor to seeds. BTW, Duke's Shorty is delicious as well, although it was not part of the . CHICAGO, March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Conagra Brands, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire protein-based snacking businesses Thanasi Foods LLC ,. Encore provided Thanasi with growth capital and partial liquidity for existing shareholders. 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