KeHE Completes Acquisition of Nature's Best

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- KeHE Distributors, LLC (KeHE) has completed its acquisition of Nature's Best – a California-based distributor of health and natural food products.  The acquisition, first announced on July 18, supports KeHE's strategic focus of being the preferred supply chain partner in the natural, specialty, and fresh products marketplace in North America.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Nature's Best transaction further expands KeHE's national distribution capabilities, and broadens it's natural and organic expertise.  Already the largest distributor of specialty food products and the second largest distributor of natural food products in North America, KeHE will now employ over 4000 employees, operate 14 warehouses, distribute to over 35,000 store doors weekly and export to 32 countries. 

"Now that the acquisition is complete, we are thrilled to be welcoming the highly talented Nature's Best team into the KeHE family and building upon the more than 45 years of Nature's Best marketing, logistics, and distribution excellence," stated KeHE's President and CEO, Brandon Barnholt.  Mr. Barnholt continued, "Our industry is rapidly evolving and this transaction allows us to serve our customers with more efficiency and innovation, while delivering on our strategic promise of being the best supply partner to retailers ranging from the smallest independent grocer or natural food store to the largest regional or national chain."

About KeHE
KeHE Distributors, LLC (KeHE) provides Natural & Organic, Specialty & Gourmet, International & Multicultural and Fresh products to natural food stores, chain grocery stores, independent grocery stores and other specialty product retailers throughout North America.  KeHE is an employee-owned company with over 4000 employees in the U.S. and Canada.  Through KeHE Cares, KeHE contributes 10% of its pre-tax profits to organizations in the U.S. and to 15 additional countries on four continents. KeHE was advised by BMO Capital Markets Corp and Winston & Strawn.

About Nature's Best
Organic pioneers Gladys and Walter Lindberg opened the doors to a retail nutrition store in Los Angeles in 1949. The store grew into a chain that was considered the first health food "superstore" in Southern California. Acquiring Nature's Best in 1969, the family has grown the company into the largest privately owned wholesaler-distributor of health and natural food products in the country, with Certified Organic Distributor credentials. Nature's Best was advised by Eureka Capital Partners; Palmieri, Tyler, Wiener, Wilhelm & Waldron; and, Raimondo Pettit.  

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ari Goldsmith
Sr. Director, Marketing, KeHE
[email protected]  

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SOURCE KeHE Distributors, LLC