What LaSalle Capital does

LaSalle Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 2004 that makes control equity investments in the lower middle market food & beverage ecosystem. The firm targets value-added, premium-quality food and beverage manufacturers, unique agriculture operations, and specialty B2B supply chain companies, typically investing $10–$30 million of equity per platform with a hands-on, strategic approach that partners with incumbent management teams. LaSalle manages over $500 million in capital across several investment funds, including the recently closed LaSalle Capital RBIC, L.P. (final close April 2025), and has executed 15+ investments with 12+ realizations across its history, including Fresh Origins (sales doubled, earnings tripled over a 4.5-year hold), Lucy's, Gold's Pure Foods, B-O-F Corporation, and Joseph's Gourmet Pasta.

The firm's current active portfolio consists of three food & beverage platforms — Cascade Coffee (acquired October 2024), Great Lakes Potato Chips (acquired December 2022 in partnership with Lightspring Capital), and Westminster Bakers (held since November 2009) — together with Gen3 Marketing, a digital marketing services investment. The investment team is composed of four Partners (Jeff Walters, Kelly Cornelis, David Murav, Andrew Dzwonchyk) plus a Vice President (David Taiclet Jr., added March 2024). Revenue is generated through traditional private equity economics: management fees on committed capital plus carried interest on realized exits, with 2022–2025 producing a notable string of realizations (Fresh Origins to Sun Capital, Lucy's, Gold's Pure Foods, B-O-F Corporation, and Joseph's Gourmet Pasta to Turri's Italian Foods/Benford Capital).

Go-to-market is relationship-driven and direct: deal sourcing is conducted through management-team relationships, intermediaries, and food & beverage industry networks, with the firm's website and LinkedIn presence serving as the primary public-facing channels. The firm's value-add framework includes capital for plant expansion and add-on acquisitions, pricing and go-to-market optimization, new product development, team build-out, and margin enhancement — a classic lower-middle-market sponsor operating playbook applied within a narrow vertical rather than a technology-driven differentiator.

Name

LaSalle Capital

Legal name

LaSalle Capital

Website

https://lasallecapital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LaSalle Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 2004 that makes $10–$30M control equity investments in lower middle market food & beverage manufacturers, agriculture operations, and specialty supply chain companies, managing over $500M across multiple funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity Investment

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrials & Manufacturing Growth Equity (FSANACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consumer & Retail Growth Equity (FSANACAC), Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)

Keywords

• Private equity investment
• Food beverage manufacturing
• Lower middle market
• Control equity investments
• Growth capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fund Management / Investment Returns: As a private equity firm, LaSalle Capital generates returns through capital appreciation and exit proceeds from portfolio company investments, rather than traditional product or service revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LaSalle Capital makes control equity investments in value-added, premium quality food and beverage manufacturers, unique agriculture operations, and specialty B2B supply chain companies. The firm invests between $10 and $30 million in equity per platform, often through a series of investments to fund growth, plant expansion, and add-on acquisitions. Partners work hands-on with management teams to drive growth, margin enhancement, and operational improvements.

Product overview

LaSalle Capital is a private equity firm (not a technology company) that offers investment management services as its core product. The firm makes control equity investments in value-added food and beverage manufacturers, agriculture operations, and specialty B2B supply chain companies, typically investing $10-$30 million per platform. Their current portfolio includes three active investments: Cascade Coffee (coffee manufacturing), Great Lakes Potato Chips (kettle cooked chips), and Westminster Bakers (oyster crackers), along with Gen3 Marketing (digital marketing). The firm has successfully exited 14 prior portfolio companies across the food & beverage ecosystem including Joseph's Gourmet Pasta, B-O-F Corporation, Fresh Origins, Lucy's, Gold's Pure Foods, Eclipse Advantage, DeIorio Foods, Brown & Joseph, United American Security, ChaseDesign, Violet Packing, and Advanced H2O.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investment Management Services Control equity investments in value-added, premium quality food and beverage manufacturers, unique agriculture operations, and specialty B2B supply chain companies, typically investing between $10 and $30 million in equity per platform through a strategic, hands-on partnership with management teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fresh Origins more than doubled sales and tripled earnings over its 4.5-year investment period under LaSalle's ownership

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Centre Partners: Middle market private equity firm with a long-standing focus on consumer and food & beverage companies. Direct peer in the food & beverage lower middle market with similar value-creation approach and equity check sizes.
• North Castle Partners: Private equity firm focused on consumer health, wellness, and nutrition companies. Direct peer in the premium/natural food and beverage segment, particularly relevant given LaSalle's portfolio exposure to Lucy's (gluten-free) and similar health-positioned brands.
• Kainos Capital: Dallas-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the food and consumer products value chain in the lower middle market. Kainos is the closest direct competitor to LaSalle Capital given its parallel F&B specialization, comparable equity check size, and similar value-added manufacturer thesis.
• Frontenac Company: Chicago-based private equity firm investing in lower middle market consumer-facing companies, with significant food and beverage exposure. Highly comparable geographic overlap (Chicago) and consumer/food sector focus.
• Swander Pace Capital: Private equity firm specializing in consumer products companies, including food and beverage manufacturers in the middle market. Direct peer given similar focus on branded and private label consumer food businesses and comparable equity check range.
• Benford Capital Partners: Chicago-based private equity firm focused on lower middle market consumer, food, and business services companies. Direct peer with overlapping geographic footprint, comparable check sizes, and active in the same F&B platform category (acquired Joseph's Gourmet Pasta from LaSalle in 2025).
• Encore Consumer Capital: Private equity firm exclusively focused on consumer products companies in the lower middle market. Direct peer in the consumer/F&B niche with comparable equity check sizes and operating partnership approach.
• River Associates Investments: Lower middle market private equity firm investing in food, consumer products, and business services companies. Direct peer given parallel F&B and consumer products focus with similar value-added manufacturer investment thesis.
• Mason Wells: Middle market private equity firm headquartered in Milwaukee with significant consumer products and food & beverage focus. Comparable as a Midwest-based lower middle market PE firm investing in consumer-facing businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Sun Capital Partners: Large global private equity firm with significant food and beverage portfolio across consumer products. Relevant incumbent given its acquisition of Fresh Origins from LaSalle in 2022, demonstrating direct interaction and overlap in the F&B lower middle market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lasalle-capital-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LaSalle Capital