Braintrust Investments Acquires Blue Buddha Beverages LLC

22-Dec-2014

BURR RIDGE, Ill.–Braintrust Investments, LLC (“Braintrust”) announced today that its subsidiary Wholesome Tea Company, LLC (“Wholesome”) has acquired the business of Blue Buddha Beverages LLC (“Blue Buddha”). Blue Buddha is the second ready-to-drink tea beverage company acquired by Braintrust this year, following its acquisition of Inko’s Tea. The transaction has been closed with immediate effect and the terms were not disclosed.

“We share a similar vision for the company, and Wholesome’s expertise in beverages will enable us to scale and better serve our customers.”

Founded in 2009, the company markets and sells a variety of bottled blended herbal iced teas sold under the Blue Buddha trademark that support the following states of being: Vitality, Serenity, Radiance, and Wellness. The company is focused on providing the highest quality offerings to the health conscious consumer.

“We are very excited to join the Wholesome team and we look forward to enhancing our growth while continuing to provide super premium ready-to-drink teas to our customers,” said Kris Whelan, Founder of Blue Buddha. “We share a similar vision for the company, and Wholesome’s expertise in beverages will enable us to scale and better serve our customers.”

“Blue Buddha has strong consumer interest. Their delicious blended teas and unique formulas should be enjoyed more broadly. We are thrilled to be adding Blue Buddha to our portfolio and will be working closely with brokers, distributors, and retailers to provide more consumers with access to the company’s truly unique teas,” said Kevin Kotecki, Braintrust’s Founder and Managing Member. “In addition, we will be dramatically increasing Blue Buddha’s marketing efforts, building broad scale, consumer awareness, and trial.”

Advisors to Braintrust include financial advisors Scott-Macon Group, Inc. and the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP.

About Braintrust Investments, LLC and Wholesome Tea Company, LLC

Based in Burr Ridge, IL, Braintrust Investments, LLC is a private investment firm focused on the consumer products sector and, in particular, food and beverage companies. Prior to establishing Braintrust, Kevin Kotecki, its Managing Member, held CEO and President roles at Mark Anthony Brands (Mike’s Hard Lemonade), Pabst Brewing Company, ConAgra Refrigerated Foods, and Brach’s Confections, Inc.

About Blue Buddha Beverages LLC

Headquartered in Westerly, RI, Blue Buddha Beverages LLC manufactures, sells and markets a line of delicious, ready-to-drink blended herbal teas sold under the Blue Buddha trademark that support the following states of being: Vitality, Serenity, Radiance, and Wellness. Blue Buddha promises to offer high quality products and information with a commitment to values and integrity. Blue Buddha’s products can be found in natural foods stores, grocery stores, gourmet stores, and health clubs.