Arbor Investments acquires DPI Specialty Foods

Arbor Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm, said it completed the acquisition of a majority equity stake in Ontario, Calif.-based DPI Specialty Foods Inc. from Dublin-based Ornua Co-Operative Ltd. With approximately 1,800 employees and annual revenues in excess of $1.0 billion, DPI is one of the largest specialty food distributors in the United States. The company sells gourmet, ethnic, organic and better-for-you foods to national, regional and independent retailers, quick-service restaurants and foodservice operators through eight distribution centers across the United States.

“DPI has an impressive 30-year record of profitably driving customer sales growth through individualized programs that combine best-in-class product selection, logistics and merchandising with a highly-focused and flexible service model,” said Alan Weed of Arbor Investments. “With a diverse network of national and international vendors, DPI has the pulse of specialty food trends, particularly in the dynamic gourmet, perishable, specialty, natural, organic, local and ethnic foods categories that retail customers and discriminating consumers demand.”

Ornua will retain a minority equity interest in the company, and DPI’s existing senior management will continue to lead the organization, Arbor Investments said.