CORAL GABLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P. (“MBF”), a healthcare-focused private equity firm, announced today the sale of one of its portfolio companies, FDC Vitamins, LLC, doing business as Nutri-Force Nutrition (“Nutri-Force”), to Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE: VSI, “Vitamin Shoppe”), a leading multi-channel specialty retailer of nutritional products.
MBF partnered with Nutri-Force’s management team in 2007 to build one of the nation’s leading and fastest growing manufacturers to the nutritional products industry.
“We were fortunate to partner with a terrific management team, led by CEO Anthony Alfonso, to build Nutri-Force into a market leader,” said MBF Chairman Miguel “Mike” Fernandez. “Working with management, MBF developed and executed a strategic plan that expanded Nutri-Force’s manufacturing capabilities and added new branded products to its portfolio.”
“MBF has been instrumental in our company’s success,” said Nutri-Force CEO Anthony Alfonso. “MBF has been a great partner, and we are excited to work with Vitamin Shoppe to continue supporting our customers with niche manufacturing products and turnkey solutions.”
Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor to Nutri-Force and Holland & Knight served as legal counsel. Stifel acted as financial advisor to Vitamin Shoppe and K&L Gates LLP served as legal counsel.
About MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P.:
MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P. (“MBF”) is an industry-focused private equity firm dedicated to the healthcare sector that invests in leveraged buyouts, growth capital investments and recapitalizations. The Principals of MBF have substantial operating experience in healthcare and have held senior management positions in both private and publicly-traded healthcare companies. MBF principals have managed and helped build some of the nation’s most innovative and successful healthcare companies. The firm is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida. For more information, please visit www.mbfhp.com.
About Nutri-Force Nutrition:
Headquartered in Miami Lakes, Nutri-Force provides custom manufacturing, private label and re-packaging services for a wide range of both domestic and international customers within its 215,000 square foot cGMP certified facility. The company has been a successful leader in the production of private label nutritional supplements and vitamins as well as developing and marketing products under its own labels Nutri-Force Sports and Betancourt. The company has expertise in production of soft gels, tablets, powders and capsules. Nutri-Force also works closely with its customers in developing and manufacturing new products.
About the Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (NYSE:VSI)
Vitamin Shoppe is a leading multi-channel specialty retailer of nutritional products based in North Bergen, New Jersey. In its stores and on its website, the Company carries one of the most comprehensive retail assortments in the industry, including vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and beauty aids. In addition to offering 900 national brand products, the Vitamin Shoppe also exclusively carries products under The Vitamin Shoppe®, BodyTech®, True Athlete®, MyTrition®, plnt™, ProBioCare™ and Next Step™ brands. The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through more than 660 company-operated retail stores under The Vitamin Shoppe, Super Supplements and Vitapath retail banners, and primarily through its websites, www.VitaminShoppe.com and www.supersup.com. Follow The Vitamin Shoppe on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/THEVITAMINSHOPPE and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VitaminShoppe.
