BrightPet Expands with Acquisition of Bravo! Pet Foods

LISBON, Ohio – BrightPet Nutrition Group, a marketer and manufacturer of premium and super-premium pet foods, treats and care products, has completed the strategic acquisition of Bravo! Pet Foods, a pioneer in frozen raw and freeze-dried pet diets.

The transaction by BrightPet, a portfolio company of A&M Capital Partners, is the second in the two years since the private equity investment fund acquired the company. It reflects the M&A strategy that bolsters its branded portfolio while extending capabilities in high growth market segments, the company said.

Terms were not disclosed.

“When we acquired BrightPet, our goal was to grow the company into a premier platform in pet food, treats, and care products, with a differentiated portfolio of meaningful brands and best-in-industry production capabilities,” said Ryan McCarthy, partner at A&M Capital Partners, in a statement.

“In the two years since our acquisition, BrightPet has achieved significant domestic and international growth in super-premium product categories and increased share in high-growth channels, including e-commerce. We have completed two strategic acquisitions and have more than doubled the company’s revenues, the number of brands in our portfolio, and, most importantly, invested heavily in manufacturing capabilities to consistently deliver new and innovative product offerings,” McCarthy said.

BrightPet serves domestic and international markets with branded, private label, and contract manufactured products. BrightPet’s portfolio includes consumer brands such as Stewart, Blackwood, Adirondack, By Nature, Miracle Care and Hamilton, with holistic and natural solutions.

“The Bravo brand is widely known and has been respected for more than 20 years. We believe Bravo’s commitment to innovation, premium ingredients and the highest standard of manufacturing aligns well with BrightPet,” said Dave Kowal, CEO of BrightPet. “This acquisition supports our vision to be the most valued pet platform in the industry. By expanding our branded portfolio and strengthening our production capabilities, we expect to continue the growth trajectory BrightPet has established over the past few years.”

Bravo, founded by the Bogner family in 2002 in Manchester, Conn., was one of the first brands to manufacture and sell frozen raw and freeze-dried pet food, and is a leader in educating the industry and pet parents as to the health benefits of a raw diet. In addition to a range of treats, chews and supplements for dogs and cats, Bravo offers five meal solutions, including complete and balanced meals as well as customizable nutrition plans.

Melinda Miller, former CEO of Bravo, will join BrightPet as vice president of Bravo Brands.

“We could not be more excited for Bravo to join the BrightPet family of brands,” Miller said. “We believe BrightPet and AMCP immediately provide complementary resources, enabling the creation of new products for years to come. BrightPet’s commitment to innovation, quality, reliability, and safety provide an unmatched foundation to grow together.”

SOURCE: BrightPet.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.