Generational Equity Advises Louis Wohl & Sons in Sale to BJ Beltram

By Generational Equity

10/11/2018

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Louis Wohl & Sons Group, to BJ Beltram Inc. The acquisition closed May 2, 2018.

Louis Wohl & Sons, based in Tampa, Florida, is part of a group of family-owned dealers that make up the Innovative Foodservice Companies. Also part of Innovative Foodservice is E.H. Thompson Company in Jacksonville and Chef’s Warehouse in Fort Myers and Orlando. The group is unique in that it provides both design and procurement services that are equally well respected, and it is often involved in a project from start to finish. Louis Wohl’s services include design/build capabilities, foodservice design consultancy and the wholesale distribution of supplies and equipment to hospitality, restaurant, healthcare and other customers requiring food preparation capabilities.

BJ Beltram, a portfolio company of Trivest Partners, consists of two leading foodservice equipment distributors, B&J Food Service Equipment of Kansas City, Kansas, and Beltram Foodservice Group of Tampa, Florida. Combined, it is a complete foodservice dealer for new and pre-owned commercial restaurant equipment, kitchen supplies, smallwares, tabletop, furniture and fabrication. The company also provides design and project management services.

“We are very excited about our partnership with Louis Wohl,” said Trivest Partner Jorge Gross, Jr.

“It fits with our long-term strategy to execute add-on acquisitions, add scale and build one of the leading foodservice equipment distributors in the U.S.”

The Louis Wohl purchase represents BJ Beltram’s first acquisition as a Trivest portfolio company, and the group intends to continue to pursue additional add-on opportunities to build scale and expand geographies.

Generational Equity Senior Managing Director Julie Sandoval’s team, led by Managing Director William Hunter, successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director Edward Weber established the initial relationship with Louis Wohl.

“In an industry undergoing major consolidation, the fit between the companies was ideal strategically and geographically,” said Hunter.

“The design and project management service is a profitable service differentiator.”