EDISON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Swander Pace Capital (“SPC”), an experienced private equity firm focused on investing in and growing consumer products companies, is pleased to announce the successful sale of Reliance Vitamin (“Reliance”) to Impetus Wellness Group (“Impetus”), a premier wellness-focused platform dedicated to partnering with industry-leading vitamins, minerals, and supplements (“VMS”) businesses.
SPC partnered with Reliance Vitamin founder Phil Vigeant, making the investment in the company through its Branch Brook Holdings partnership with Jefferson Capital and United Natural Foods. Reliance Vitamin is a differentiated formulator and manufacturer of private label and co-manufactured VMS products, including plant protein, probiotic, and hydration products.
“It has been a privilege to partner with the Reliance team,” said Alex Litt, Director at SPC. “The team’s commitment to quality and the ability to deliver new and exciting innovation has been impressive. We wish the Reliance Vitamin team well and are confident they will continue to deliver strong results in the years to come.”
“The strategic investments made under SPC’s ownership have strengthened Reliance’s position as a key player in the nutritional supplement industry, setting the stage for continued growth and innovation under Impetus’s stewardship,” explained Linda Naselli, CEO of Reliance Vitamin.
“The Reliance Vitamin result is a great example of SPC’s consistent ability to work with founders and management teams to drive growth and innovation in dynamic and compelling categories,” said Andrew Richards, Founder, CEO & Managing Director of Swander Pace Capital. “We continue to invest in our core categories, allowing us to leverage our deep category understanding and apply that knowledge to each investment.”
SPC has gained significant expertise and experience in the VMS and over-the-counter (“OTC”) categories with investments in Captek, Functional Formularies, Renew Life, Mommy’s Bliss, Swanson Health Products, Clarion Brands, Insight Pharmaceuticals, Prestige Brands, and Santa Cruz Nutritionals.
Lincoln served as the exclusive financial advisor to Reliance Vitamin, with McGuire Woods acting as legal counsel.
About Swander Pace Capital
Swander Pace Capital (SPC) is a private equity firm that invests in companies that are integral to consumers’ lives. SPC’s consumer industry experience informs the firm’s strategic approach and seeks to add value through access to its SPC Playbook, senior team, and extensive network. The firm partners with management teams to help build companies to their full potential. SPC invests in businesses across three domains of consumer lifestyles: Food + Beverage, Body + Wellness, and Home + Family. With offices in California, New Jersey, and Ontario (Canada), SPC has invested in approximately 65 platform companies and raised cumulative equity commitments of approximately $2.2 billion since 1996. For more information, visit www.spcap.com.
About Branch Brook Holdings
Branch Brook Holdings LLC represents a strategic partnership between Swander Pace Capital, Jefferson Capital Partners, and United Natural Foods Inc. The partnership was formed in 2012 to invest in organic, natural, and specialty consumer product companies in North America. Branch Brook is fully integrated into Swander Pace Capital and remains uniquely positioned to serve as a valuable partner given its extensive history investing in these types of companies and its unique relationship with United Natural Foods. For more information, please visit www.branchbrookllc.com.
About Reliance Vitamin
Reliance Vitamin is a trusted formulator and contract manufacturer of private label and custom vitamins, minerals, and supplements. Specializing in plant-based, probiotic, and hydration products, the company is committed to delivering innovative, high-quality nutritional solutions to its customers. For more information, visit www.reliancevitamin.com.
About Impetus Wellness Group
Impetus Wellness Group is an organization committed to building an industry-leading platform of contract manufacturers (“CMOs”) in the vitamins, minerals, and supplements (“VMS”) sector. Led by seasoned industry experts and backed by AEA Investors Small Business Private Equity, Impetus’s wellness-focused platform is dedicated to fostering the growth of VMS companies. By collaborating with VMS leadership teams, Impetus focuses on innovation, quality enhancement, and customer engagement to set new benchmarks in the health and wellness industry. For more information, visit www.impetuswellnessgroup.com.
