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Plant-based brand Caulipower has been acquired by private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners.
Caulipower, which makes cauliflower-crusted pizza, cauliflower-coated chicken and more, will join Paine Schwartz’s Urban Farmer brand, which produces specialty dough products. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Paine Schwartz said it will combine Urban Farmer’s manufacturing capabilities with Caulipower’s national distribution and innovation pipeline. This combination will allow Urban Farmer to reach millions of new households through a platform that encompasses branded, private label and co-manufactured better frozen products.
“CAULIPOWER has changed the way people think about comfort food,” Chris Jaromin, CEO of Urban Farmer, said in a statement. “CAULIPOWER’s commitment to making better food accessible and delicious aligns perfectly with Urban Farmer’s mission to combine culinary innovation and quality manufacturing. Together, we will expand our ability to bring nutritious, delicious food to more tables across the country.”
Caulipower, which will continue to operate under the brand name, was founded by Gail Becker in 2016 after her two sons were diagnosed with celiac disease and were unable to eat pizza.
A year later, the company launched its cauliflower crust pizza, and within 18 months it became the best-selling product in its category and the No. 1 selling brand of gluten-free pizza in the United States, according to the company. The business then expanded into frozen breaded chicken, pizza snack products and single-serve entrees.
Caulipower appointed a former PepsiCo executive last year. Tyler Ricks leads the company as promised At the time of entering a “new phase of growth” following the launch of a number of new products, Caulipower estimated annual sales of more than $120 million.
