Brazi Bites, the top U.S. producer of naturally gluten-free Brazilian-style cheese bread, announced that San Francisco Equity Partners (SFEP) has acquired a majority stake in the Portland-based company. SFEP is a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on consumer growth companies. The new partnership aims to develop new business around the strength of the Brazi Bites founding team that has been leading a movement among consumers toward authentic, ethnic, better-for-you frozen foods offerings.
“San Francisco Equity Partners is the ideal partner for Brazi Bites based on their experience guiding authentic consumer brands to a broader audience,” said Junea Rocha, Co-Founder and CEO of Brazi Bites. “The popularity of our Brazilian Cheese Bread line has positioned the company well to expand into adjacent categories. Over the next few years, Brazi Bites will become a platform for delicious, better-for-you Latin American foods. We are excited for this new partnership to accelerate the distribution growth for our current product offering and pursue the numerous growth opportunities for our brand.”
Brazi Bites has emerged as a key player in the food industry’s rapid evolution towards “clean-label,” offering wholesome products that are convenient and delicious. Their product line is available at over 6,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Kroger, Costco, Wegmans, Publix, Target, Safeway and more. They are also launching at Loblaws in Canada, August 2018.
“Brazi Bites is a trendsetting brand at the forefront of the ‘freezer revolution’ and their growth within the industry reflects that,” said Scott Potter, Managing Partner, San Francisco Equity Partners. “Junea and Cameron have done an impressive job in building an authentic brand with deep consumer connection. We look forward to leveraging our resources and network in partnering with them for their next stage of growth.”
This partnership comes on the heels of a period of exponential growth for Brazi Bites. In August the company was ranked #81 on the Inc. 5000 annual list of “America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies,” with 4,554% growth in 3 years. This ranking makes Brazi Bites America’s fastest-growing, woman-led food company and third fastest-growing food company overall.
