Case Studies

Founded in 1978 by Pasquale Caputo and still led by the Caputo family, Caputo Cheese (“Caputo”) is a processor and innovator of fresh and aged Italian cheeses. The company combines traditional craftsmanship with custom flavor development, packaging and value-added processing capabilities for customers in the foodservice and manufacturing sectors. Caputo has received multiple “Best of Class” awards and recognition at the World Championship Cheese Contest. Promus Equity (“Promus”) approached the partnership opportunity with a family office philosophy, respect for the Caputo family legacy and shared commitment to the principles that shaped the business, helping position the firm to partner with Caputo.

Natale Caputo began leading the company in 1996 and continued building upon the foundation established by the prior generation. As the business evolved, Natale sought a partner that could support the company’s next phase of growth while maintaining its longstanding focus on quality, service and tradition. In 2021, Promus partnered with Caputo and brought a flexible, relationship-oriented approach along with a commitment to supporting the company’s culture and long-term objectives.

Throughout the partnership, Promus worked alongside the Caputo management team to support operational initiatives and growth opportunities. Drawing upon our experience in food manufacturing through prior partnerships with Ellison Bakery, Pure’s Food, Golden Bake and Better Butter, we assisted the company in expanding industry relationships, evaluating operational investments and pursuing additional commercial opportunities. Together, the teams worked to broaden the company’s sales pipeline, expand production capabilities and support new customer relationships while maintaining the quality standards associated with the Caputo name.

During the partnership period, Caputo experienced revenue growth, increased production capacity and additional customer opportunities as the business continued to evolve based on its specific operational and strategic priorities. The company further strengthened its position within the specialty cheese market while preserving the family-oriented culture and reputation developed over multiple decades.

Caputo Cheese was a collaborative partnership focused on operational support, disciplined growth initiatives and long-term alignment between Promus and the Caputo management team.

Clarion Safety Systems (“Clarion”) has been a global leader in safety signage, labels and markings since 1990. The company works with thousands of original equipment manufacturers across a wide range of industries to design and produce customized product safety label systems that help facility owners and employers protect workers and mitigate liability-related risk. Clarion is recognized for its vast knowledge of evolving safety standards, design expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Promus Equity’s (“Promus”) cultural alignment and ability to structure a transaction that balanced the founder’s objectives with the company’s long-term growth opportunities established a strong foundation for our partnership with Clarion.

For many founders who have built their companies through deep personal involvement, a central challenge eventually emerges: how to step back from day-to-day operations without putting the business at risk. Geoffrey Peckham, the founder and owner of Clarion, faced this reality as his company continued to grow. His goal was to expand the company’s reach and capabilities while reducing his own operational role, all without sacrificing what had been built.

Promus and Clarion began their partnership in January 2017 through a majority equity investment alongside Geoffrey. One of his goals was to transition from the CEO role into an active chairman role. Promus structured the transaction to make this transition possible within the first year of our partnership. Geoffrey rolled a portion of his proceeds forward and maintained a meaningful ownership of Clarion, giving him continued alignment with the company’s long-term success while transitioning away from daily management.

With a shared plan in place, Promus empowered Clarion to pursue initiatives designed to strengthen the organization itself. Alongside the management team, we enhanced sales and customer engagement, expanded production capacity and strengthened digital and content marketing capabilities. Just as importantly, the company invested in management depth, clearer processes and the skills needed to execute at a larger scale. Our investment in Clarion reflected our commitment to support the pursuit of ambitious growth on the company’s own terms and help strengthen the organization to thrive throughout its next chapter.

What began as a thoughtful transition became a lasting partnership built on aligned objectives and meaningful progress. For founders considering their business’ next chapter, Clarion’s story shows what becomes possible when a company’s growth meets Promus’ flexible approach to partnership.

Quest Products (“Quest”) is a vertically integrated consumer health company focused on developing, manufacturing and distributing self-care products through an omnichannel platform. Founded in 2001, the company operates a portfolio of wholly owned brands serving a range of consumer healthcare categories. Promus Equity’s (“Promus”) collaborative partnership approach and experience supporting management teams through periods of operational and strategic evolution served as the foundation for a lasting partnership with Quest.

Promus acquired Quest in February 2018 in partnership with the company’s founders and management team following nearly two decades of developing and distributing consumer healthcare products. At the time of the investment, Quest operated through both third-party e-commerce distribution and a growing portfolio of owned brands sold primarily through traditional retail channels. The founders sought liquidity for existing shareholders while identifying a partner that could support the company’s long-term strategic objectives. Promus provided Quest’s first institutional capital and partnered with management around the company’s ongoing transition toward a more integrated branded consumer health platform.

Since the initial investment, Promus has worked alongside Quest’s management team to support strategic planning, operational initiatives and the continued expansion of the company’s branded product portfolio. Throughout the partnership period, the company invested in manufacturing capabilities, sales and marketing resources, and operational infrastructure intended to support future growth initiatives. The founding team has remained actively involved in the business, including Mike Brennan’s transition into the CEO role.

Quest also completed a series of acquisitions during the partnership period that have expanded manufacturing capabilities, operational resources and commercial reach. These initiatives have supported the company’s continued evolution as a branded consumer health platform.

Since partnering with Promus in 2018, Quest has continued to evolve through a combination of acquisitions, operational investments, product development initiatives and strategic planning efforts undertaken by the management team and its partners.