Milwaukee-based private equity firm Mason Wells has acquired Whitehall Specialties Inc., a Whitehall-based cheese products manufacturer.
Whitehall will be owned by Mason Wells, Whitehall management, Northleaf Capital, PPM America and Audax Mezzanine. BMO Capital Markets provided senior financing and Audax contributed mezzanine financing for the transaction.
“Mason Wells is delighted to be partnering with Whitehall Specialties to continue expanding its market reach and developing new products,” said Greg Myers, senior managing director of Mason Wells. “Whitehall has a tremendous reputation in the market due to its dedicated employees, and a culture devoted to serving its customers with the highest quality products.”
Whitehall, founded in 1994, makes both custom analog (imitation) and processed cheese products. It has two manufacturing facilities in Whitehall and one in Hillsboro.
Analog cheese, which includes dairy and non-dairy ingredients, is used in food processing, food service and retail. Whitehall makes block, shredded, dried, grated, individually wrapped slices and slice-on-slice cheese products, which are marketed globally as branded and private label products in retail stores. Whitehall cheese is also used by food processors and food service providers in their products.
“We are excited about our new partnership with Mason Wells and believe its experience in supporting growth-oriented businesses by bringing additional resources to the table will benefit Whitehall’s customers, suppliers and employees, and enable us to grow globally,” said Steve Fawcett, Whitehall president and CEO.
