These on-trend brands extend our meat snacks and seeds businesses into faster-growing, more premium segments. 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. 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 (Thanasi), maker of Duke's meat snacks, and BIGS LLC (BIGS), maker of BIGS seeds. With an ongoing commitment to corporate citizenship, Conagra Brands has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for six consecutive years. U. p until 2007 or so, the jerky and snack meat market was mostly shared between four major players. Dangerous Processor Shut Down; Boeing 747 Junked; Lightning Battery Fire | Today in Manufacturing Ep. Justin Duke Havlick. This batch was freshly crafted with Roasted Hatch Chiles. The valley's cooler climate helps our local farmer friends produce chiles with an . Justin started making his own jerky on his backyard smoker. The presenters were Justin "Duke" Havlick (Duke's Small Batch Smoked Meats), Mike Lawinski (FATE Brewing Company), and Jason Oliver (Devils Backbone Brewing Company). Duke's is a fast-growing premium meat snack brand, with products including Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages and Duke's Steak & Brisket Strips. "These on-trend brands extend our meat snacks and seeds businesses into faster-growing, more premium segments. Founded in 2004 by Justin "Duke" Havlick, the company continues with Duke's same original vision of producing sausage snacks that are made from 100% grass-fed beef, flavorful ingredients, and creative smoke parings. and Conagras last acquisition of a natural products company was last September, when it picked up Frontera Foods and Red Fork. Conagra Brands currently manages the Slim Jim meat stick brand and the DAVID Seeds brand. 130 . 600: Hand-hung and slow-dried for days in small limited-size batches. An ideal partnership that helped solidify our strategic sale to Conagra!" Thanasi Foods Founder & CEO, Justin "Duke" Havlick Prev All Next Justin Duke Havlick, Dukes 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. 2.5 oz bag . Made with Beef Collagen Casing Caramel Color, Carmine). 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. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Duke's jerky brand name was started in 2004 by Justin Havlick, aka "Duke". All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 1. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. 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. Dont fix something that aint broke! His inspiration was to bring unique flavors and a specialty, craft focus to two categories (seeds and smoked meat snacks) that were, at the time, somewhat less differentiated. This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to Following the completion of the transaction, the Duke's and BIGS brands will continue operating out of Boulder, Colorado. With an ongoing commitment to corporate citizenship, Conagra Brands has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for six consecutive years. The firm has raised over $600 million in equity capital and invested in 25 companies. Thanasi Foods will continue to be led by Justin Havlick and the existing leadership team of Thanasi Foods. For more information, please visit www.dukesmeats.com. No MSG. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approval, and is expected to close summer 2017, according toConagra. https://twitter.com/vendingmagazine The competition in the snack set will see some sibling rivalry with todays announcement that Conagra Brands, producer of DAVID seeds and Slim Jim, has entered into an agreement to acquire Thanasi Foods, maker of BIGS seeds and Dukes meat snacks. 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. Thanasi was founded in 2004 by Justin "Duke" Havlick. Encore provided Thanasi with growth capital and partial liquidity for existing shareholders. The in-your-face, delicious Cayenne Jerky exudes big flavor and strongpepper notes. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. Thats why it came as no surprise when Justin Duke Havlick chose Left Hand Brewing Company, which upholds similar values of using uncomplicated ingredients, to help promote the newest trend of pairing craft beer with Dukes craft made jerky. 7 g protein with 2 g of total sugar per serving. BTW, Duke's Shorty is delicious as well, although it was not part of the . The company says it will create 3,000 jobs at an average rate of $33.49 per hour and invest $3.6 billion into the economy. Their brands include Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages and Bigs Sunflower Seeds. Sodium --Sugars Nutrition Facts Servings Per Container about 6 Amount Per Serving Calories 130 % Daily Value* Total Fat . Conagra Dukes Hot & Spicy Shorty Smoked Sausages & Left Hand Good Juju. Company Founder and President Justin "Duke" Havlick is doing exactly what he loves to do: combining his love of food with his love of the outdoors (he lives in Boulder, CO, after all). Havlick added, "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. Quick Facts . Food giant General Mills (GIS) - Get Free Report said Wednesday it is buying Epic Provisions, an Austin, Texas-based maker of meat bars. (NYSE: 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. Thanasi Foods will continue to be led by Justin Havlick and the existing leadership. 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. We begin with a simple blend of classic spices before adding chopped green Italian parsley and a touch of real roasted garlic to give these Smoked Shorty Sausages their authentic old world flavor. An ideal partnership that helped solidify our strategic sale to Conagra!, Thanasi Foods Founder & CEO, Justin Duke Havlick, 111 Pine Street Suite 1825 San Francisco, CA 94111 In 2015 Thanasi brought on Encore Capital as an investor. (function(){var ml="526481)(90-%",mi="73506;19182:8409",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j