Garibaldi Blue Investment Company has made a majority investment in Level Ground Trading, a Fair Trade and Organic coffee roaster based in Saanichton, British Columbia. No financial terms were disclosed. Level Ground’s founders remain owners alongside Garibaldi Blue, and Laurie Klassen, the company’s CEO and a co-founder, continues to lead the business.
Founded in 1997 by four British Columbia families, Level Ground sources specialty coffee from small-scale, family-owned farms and co-operatives and roasts it in small batches at its own facility on Vancouver Island. It supplies retail, club, grocery, foodservice and direct customers across Canada. Vancouver-based Garibaldi Blue is a family-owned investment company that invests its own capital in private operating companies, with a focus on food and beverage.
It describes itself as a long-hold business owner. “Level Ground is building something that’s difficult to replicate,” said Derek Senft, owner and managing partner of Garibaldi Blue. “The company combines 29 years of coffee-grower and customer relationships with a proven craft of producing exceptional coffee that is well-priced and increasingly available across Canada.” Senft added that Garibaldi Blue would back the team “with the capital and capability to build one of Canada’s leading coffee brands.” Bryan & Company acted as legal counsel to Garibaldi Blue, while Mogan, Daniels, Slager advised Level Ground. PwC and KPMG provided advisory services, and the Bank of Nova Scotia provided financing.
Source: PE Hub · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing