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PE Firm Heartwood Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Bush Brothers Provision Co.

Dec. 15, 2023
Fifth-generation owners will remain involved in the meat processor’s growth throughout Florida and beyond, says Heartwood Partners.

Private-equity firm Heartwood Partners announced today that Heartwood Partners IV, LP, completed a majority investment in West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Bush Brothers Provision Co. on July 7, 2023. Bush Brothers’ ownership has retained a “meaningful investment” in the fifth-generation family-owned business, the announcement from Heartwood stated.

Chris Bush, president and fifth-generation owner of Bush Brothers, said the partnership should help the company substantially accelerate the next chapter of growth, along with preservation of the family business culture.

Bush Brothers provides protein products to fine-dining restaurants, hotels, country clubs, mega yachts and private chefs in Florida and throughout the Caribbean, the announcement said. Bush Brothers processes, portions, trims and packages product for these customers to their exact specifications, and has nearly 100 years of experience in the industry.

Heartwood looks to invest in the company to rapidly increase production capacity so that Bush Brothers can offer more products to existing customers and expand business throughout Florida and beyond.

XMS Capital Partners LLC served as financial advisor to Bush Brothers in the deal, and Gunster attorneys represented the sellers in the transaction as well.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.

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