Braintrust Investments Acquires Blue Buddha Beverages LLC
December 22 2014 - 10:22PM
Business Wire
Braintrust Investments, LLC (“Braintrust”) announced today that
its subsidiary Wholesome Tea Company, LLC (“Wholesome”) has
acquired the business of Blue Buddha Beverages LLC (“Blue Buddha”).
Blue Buddha is the second ready-to-drink tea beverage company
acquired by Braintrust this year, following its acquisition of
Inko’s Tea. The transaction has been closed with immediate effect
and the terms were not disclosed.
Founded in 2009, the company markets and sells a variety of
bottled blended herbal iced teas sold under the Blue Buddha
trademark that support the following states of being: Vitality,
Serenity, Radiance, and Wellness. The company is focused on
providing the highest quality offerings to the health conscious
consumer.
“We are very excited to join the Wholesome team and we look
forward to enhancing our growth while continuing to provide super
premium ready-to-drink teas to our customers,” said Kris Whelan,
Founder of Blue Buddha. “We share a similar vision for the company,
and Wholesome’s expertise in beverages will enable us to scale and
better serve our customers.”
“Blue Buddha has strong consumer interest. Their delicious
blended teas and unique formulas should be enjoyed more broadly. We
are thrilled to be adding Blue Buddha to our portfolio and will be
working closely with brokers, distributors, and retailers to
provide more consumers with access to the company’s truly unique
teas,” said Kevin Kotecki, Braintrust’s Founder and Managing
Member. “In addition, we will be dramatically increasing Blue
Buddha’s marketing efforts, building broad scale, consumer
awareness, and trial.”
Advisors to Braintrust include financial advisors Scott-Macon,
Ltd. and the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP.
About Braintrust Investments, LLC and Wholesome Tea Company,
LLC
Based in Burr Ridge, IL, Braintrust Investments, LLC is a
private investment firm focused on the consumer products sector
and, in particular, food and beverage companies. Prior to
establishing Braintrust, Kevin Kotecki, its Managing Member, held
CEO and President roles at Mark Anthony Brands (Mike's Hard
Lemonade), Pabst Brewing Company, ConAgra Refrigerated Foods, and
Brach’s Confections, Inc.
About Blue Buddha Beverages LLC
Headquartered in Westerly, RI, Blue Buddha Beverages LLC
manufactures, sells and markets a line of delicious, ready-to-drink
blended herbal teas sold under the Blue Buddha trademark that
support the following states of being: Vitality, Serenity,
Radiance, and Wellness. Blue Buddha promises to offer high quality
products and information with a commitment to values and integrity.
Blue Buddha’s products can be found in natural foods stores,
grocery stores, gourmet stores, and health clubs.
For Braintrust Investments, LLCScott M. Silverman,
212-755-8200Group Head – Consumer Products and Retail