Trinity Hunt Partners Announces Acquisition Of CJ Foods

Backing from Trinity Hunt positions the company for growth in the super-premium pet food industry

Trinity Hunt Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on middle market companies primarily located in the Southwest region, has completed its acquisition of CJ Foods, based in Bern, KS, a premier manufacturer and packager of high-quality pet food and treats. Trinity Hunt has partnered with CEO John Kuenzi and his management team to recapitalize his family business and position the company for future growth.

“To partner with a management team as deep and well-rounded as the CJ Foods team is truly unique and represents a great opportunity for Trinity Hunt and our investors” said Will Bixby, a Partner with Trinity Hunt. “We are excited to back this exceptional team and to grow CJ Foods organically and through acquisitions to create the leading super-premium pet food company in the United States.”

“In the past year, we have cold-called and met with roughly a dozen pet food and treat manufacturers and believe that CJ Foods is the highest quality pet-food company in the superpremium arena,” said Hunter Peterson, Principal with Trinity Hunt. “There has been solid growth in the super-premium pet food niche coupled with a shortage in manufacturing capacity, so we believe the CJ Foods is uniquely positioned for growth.”

Founded in 1985, CJ Foods has a long history of serving the fastest-growing natural, functional, and organic pet food brands in the United States. Because of its unique capabilities and intense devotion to quality control, the company has earned a reputation as one of the best superpremium pet food manufacturers in the industry.