What CREO Capital Partners does

CREO Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm founded in 2005 that invests in family and founder-owned businesses, primarily across the food, consumer, and logistics sectors. The firm targets companies generating $20mm+ in annual EBITDA with unique competitive advantages and free-cash-flow generative profiles, deploying control capital through CREO Fund V out of cumulative ~$1.5bn raised across five funds from global debt and equity investors. Its investment approach combines buy-and-build platform construction (the flagship being Insignia International, a diversified Hispanic and Southwestern food platform aggregating brands like 505 Southwestern, La Tortilla Factory, Yucatan, Lilly B's, and Mama Lupes) with selective standalone acquisitions such as Bova Fresh, a Florida-based food procurement and logistics company acquired in June 2025.

The firm differentiates through deep sector specialization—particularly Hispanic and LATAM consumer expertise—and a proprietary "CREOverse" network of 30+ executives, operators, and entrepreneurs that supports deal sourcing, due diligence, customer introductions, and portfolio operations. CREO takes a hands-on approach, including placing former operators as CEOs of portfolio companies (Adam Butler at Flagship Food Group in 2023, Jason Parasco at Insignia International in 2025) and recapitalizing portfolio balance sheets (e.g., Capital One-led credit facility for Insignia in September 2024). Geographic transaction history spans the USA, UK, and Mexico, with stated European re-entry intent.

The firm is headquartered in Miami, Florida (relocated from Denver in September 2024) with additional offices in Denver and San Francisco (and a Jacksonville presence noted on the team page), and operates with approximately 10 dedicated professionals. Revenue is generated through traditional private equity fund management economics—management fees on committed/invested capital and carried interest on realized returns—with no public disclosure of fund terms, fees, or financial results.

Name

CREO Capital Partners

Legal name

CREO Capital Partners, LLC

Website

http://www.creocapitalpartners.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CREO Capital Partners is a Miami-based middle-market private equity firm founded in 2005 that invests control capital in family and founder-owned food, consumer, and logistics businesses with $20mm+ EBITDA, deploying its fifth fund with ~$1.5bn in cumulative AUM and a flagship Hispanic food platform, Insignia International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Fund Management: CREO Capital Partners generates returns through management fees and carried interest from their private equity funds. The firm has raised over $1.5 billion in capital across five funds, investing out of CREO Fund V. Returns are generated through control investments in middle-market companies, operational improvements, and eventual exits via sale to strategic buyers or other financial sponsors.
2. Portfolio Company Equity Returns: The firm earns returns through equity ownership in portfolio companies including Insignia International (formerly Flagship Food Group), Bova Fresh, and other food/consumer businesses. Returns are realized through dividend recapitalizations, operational cash flow generation, and strategic exits.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CREO Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that makes control investments in food, consumer, and logistics companies, primarily targeting family- or founder-owned businesses generating $20mm+ in annual EBITDA. The firm manages investment funds (currently deploying CREO Fund V) and operates as a buy-and-build investor, combining portfolio companies into integrated platforms such as Insignia International. CREO provides growth capital, operational expertise, and strategic guidance to portfolio management teams while earning returns through management fees and carried interest.

Product overview

CREO Capital Partners operates as a middle-market private equity firm rather than a traditional product company. The firm deploys its fifth fund to invest in food, logistics, and consumer businesses, with a focus on family/founder-owned companies generating $20mm+ EBITDA. The investment strategy centers on building integrated platforms, notably Insignia International—a diversified multinational food platform that aggregates multiple food brands under one umbrella including 505 Southwestern (salsa and green chile), La Tortilla Factory (premium tortillas), Yucatan Guacamole (fresh guacamole and dips), Lilly B's, and Mama Lupes. CREO also holds Bova Fresh, a food procurement and logistics company, alongside other portfolio holdings in the food and logistics space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Insignia International: Denver-based diversified Hispanic food platform encompassing 505 Southwestern, La Tortilla Factory, Yucatan, and Lilly B's brands
• 505 Southwestern
• La Tortilla Factory
• Yucatan Guacamole
• Lilly B's
• Bova Fresh
• The CREOverse

Products and services

• CREO Fund V (and prior funds) - Private Equity Fund Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 505 Southwestern grew 8x since CREO's acquisition in 2008
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jose EspinozaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJose Espinoza joined CREO as a Strategic Operating Advisor, working with CREO and its portfolio companies including Flagship Food Group to drive growth in its Hispanic food portfolio. His experience in hot sauce and tortilla industry segments is particularly relevant to CREO's 505 Southwestern and La Tortilla Factory brands.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Promus Equity Partners: Middle-market private equity firm focused on consumer services and products. Comparable to CREO in targeting family/founder-owned businesses with EBITDA in the $10-50mm range.
• Swander Pace Capital: Middle-market private equity firm with deep focus on food, beverage, and consumer products. Highly comparable to CREO in target sector, deal size, and operating approach of partnering with founder/family-owned brands.
• Brynwood Partners: Private equity firm exclusively focused on the consumer sector, with a particular emphasis on food and consumer products. Comparable to CREO in sector specialization, founder-friendly approach, and middle-market check size.
• Centre Partners: Middle-market private equity firm with a longstanding food and consumer products franchise. Targets founder/family-owned businesses in similar size and structure as CREO's investments.
• Encore Consumer Capital: Private equity firm focused exclusively on consumer products companies, particularly food and beverage. Closely comparable in sector focus, founder-owned deal sourcing, and middle-market positioning.
• NexPhase Capital: Operationally-focused middle-market private equity firm with significant consumer and food exposure. Comparable to CREO in targeting founder-led businesses with hands-on value creation.
• Hancock Park Associates: Middle-market consumer-focused private equity firm with deep food and restaurant sector experience. Similar to CREO in fund size, consumer sector focus, and buy-and-build strategy.
• Highlander Partners: Middle-market private equity firm with significant food, consumer, and logistics exposure. Similar in fund size, sector focus, and approach of acquiring control positions in founder-owned businesses.

Broad incumbents

• TSG Consumer Partners: Established consumer-focused private equity firm with a longer track record and larger fund sizes than CREO. Comparable consumer sector focus but operates at a broader scale and brand portfolio.

Emerging players

• Butterfly Equity: Private equity firm specializing in the food sector, with a consumer brands and food service focus. Comparable in food sector specialization though typically operates at the larger end of middle-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creo-capital-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CREO Capital Partners