Highlander Partners, L.P., a middle market private equity firm based in Dallas, announced the acquisition of Hilo Nutrition, Inc. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Hilo is an emerging and innovative player in the nutrition and wellness category.
Hilo was co-founded by Andrew Sauer and Eric Torgeson, who will remain in the same leadership positions with Hilo under Highlander's ownership, with the goal of providing consumers with novel alternatives to traditional powder supplements. Through extensive research and development, Hilo has developed unique branded products in fast growing nutritional areas, with a particular focus on sports nutrition and performance by using confection products as a delivery system.
The company collaborates with athletes, performance experts and nutritionists to deliver products that are convenient, effective and easy to take. As a pioneer in the performance gummy category, Hilo is well positioned to benefit from its expanding portfolio of innovative products as well as the rapid growth in the performance nutrition category that is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.
Highlander's portfolio includes a variety of food, beverage, health and wellness companies across the world. Highlander plans to accelerate the growth of Hilo by targeting a larger but more focused audience, continued innovation of its product offerings, strengthening its direct-to consumer (DTC) business, and aggressively expanding distribution.
