Solderholm/Lipari

Since being formed in 1961, family-owned and operated Soderholm Wholesale Foods has been a leading food distributor serving grocery and food service clients throughout the upper Midwest. The Madison, Wisconsin-based company serves as a direct store distributor (DSD) to more than 500 food retailers supplying niche products within the bakery, dairy, deli, frozen food, meat, produce, and seafood categories. Food retailers look to Soderholm to provide access to growing specialty products including natural, organic, and gluten free items that are increasingly desired by consumers.

After successfully building the business over several decades, the Soderholm family came to the conclusion that it was an opportune time to divest of their ownership interest. Promontory was introduced to the Soderholm family by their accounting firm and long-time business advisor, and shortly thereafter, Promontory was engaged to explore strategic alternatives for the business. Promontory’s recommended engagement strategy included marketing the business to a mix of both strategic and financial buyers, allowing the family to benefit from today’s aggressive M&A market. Ultimately a transaction with Michigan-based Lipari Foods, who sought out Soderholm’s strong Midwest market presence and solid relationships with specialty food products companies, was the best fit for the owner’s objectives.