21 July 2023
Marie’s, the much-travelled Illinois-based manufacturer of dips and sauces, is changing hands once more. Its sale was announced this week by Venture Foods, who have owned the company since August 2005. The new owners will be West Madison Foods, owned by Brynwood Partners. Founded in Seattle in 1959 by restauranteur Marie Nordquist, the company has since had many owners—Specialty Brands, Campbell Soups in 1988 and the original Dean Foods in 1997. Following the Dean-Suiza merger in 2001-02, Dean started exiting non-core businesses and Marie’s was sold on to Venture Foods, recouping $200m. The company’s core business remains Marie Nordquist’s iconic blue cheese dip. The West Madison deal includes rights to both the Marie’s and Deans’ Dips brand names. Terms have not been disclosed.
