Tilia Holdings, LLC a Chicago-based private investment firm specializing in manufacturing and services businesses in the food chain, announced today that it has acquired Caputo Cheese (“Caputo”) from Promus Equity Partners (“Promus”)
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Melrose Park, IL, Caputo is a leading value-added processor of high-quality Italian cheeses, providing customized aging, flavor formulation, blending and packaging services to foodservice, CPG and retail customers. Renowned for its dedication to quality and flavor, Caputo has earned numerous industry accolades, including World Championship Cheese first-place medals for its Burrata, Nodini, and Ricotta. The company has established a loyal base of blue-chip customers across the foodservice and food manufacturing sectors.
Natale Caputo, son of founder Pasquale Caputo, will continue to lead the company. “Caputo is excited to partner with Tilia as we embark on this next chapter of growth,” said Mr. Caputo. “I am proud of my family’s legacy, and Tilia’s proven expertise in scaling high-quality ingredient manufacturing businesses will enable Caputo to expand its reach while maintaining the exceptional service and quality our customers expect. At Caputo, we bring our customers a taste of the old world with new world service. We look forward to leveraging Tilia’s energy, insight, and best practices to take our business to the next level.”
Eric Larson, Co-CEO of Tilia and incoming Chairman of the Board, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with the entire Caputo team. What began as a small cheese shop has grown into an industry leader known for its excellence, innovation, and customer-centric approach. Caputo is well-aligned with Tilia’s mission to invest in businesses that enhance the safety, nutrition, and sustainability of the food supply chain.”
“Caputo has terrific momentum expanding its presence nationally as a specialist in the Italian cheese industry,” added JD Elder, Managing Director at Tilia. “We see growing consumer demand for premium Italian cheeses used as toppings and inclusions across multiple product categories. Caputo is well-positioned for ongoing growth, and we are excited to support its ambitions in building a world-class organization.”
Mayer Brown LLP served as legal counsel to Tilia. Monroe Capital provided debt financing to support the transaction. Harris Williams acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Caputo.