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Shining a light on PE ownership.

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RE

Red Gold Tomatoes

food_consumer
PE-OWNED

Tomato processing company producing canned tomatoes, sauces, and tomato-based products.

PE-OWNED

Acquired by Golden Gate Capital2020-04-22

View PE Firm Profile

What Made It Great

“

Family-owned tomato processor with strong Midwest market presence

What PE Will Likely Do

Predictions

Red Gold Tomatoes will likely start using lower-quality tomatoes and cheaper canning methods to reduce costs

MODERATEBased on: Golden Gate Capital's history of cost-cutting and debt-loading strategies in acquired companies

Portion sizes for canned tomato products and sauces will likely be reduced while prices remain the same or increase

MODERATEBased on: The industry playbook for common PE tactics in the food and consumer goods sector, including ingredient downgrades, shrinkflation, and supply chain changes

The company may switch to lower-cost suppliers for ingredients like herbs, spices, and seasonings, resulting in changes to flavor profiles

MODERATEBased on: The timeline of quality degradation and brand reputation damage observed in similar past cases, such as Payless ShoeSource and Red Lobster

Some tomato processing facilities may be closed, leading to supply chain disruptions and potential quality inconsistencies

MODERATEBased on: The timeline of quality degradation and brand reputation damage observed in similar past cases, such as Payless ShoeSource and Red Lobster

Expected Timeline

Phases
0-6 monthsCompleted

“0 to 6 months months”

Minimal visible changes as the ownership transition occurs

6-12 monthsYOU ARE HERE

“6 to 12 months months”

Shifts to lower-cost ingredients and suppliers begin behind the scenes

12-24 months

“12 to 24 months months”

Consumers start noticing changes in product quality, flavor, and consistency, leading to increased complaints

24-36 months

“24 to 36 months months”

Significant brand reputation damage as product quality continues to decline, potentially leading to market share loss

Similar Cases

Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition

Operating

Del Monte Foods

KKR·2011

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Operating

Birds Eye

Permira·2009

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Kraft Heinz

3G Capital·2015

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Bumble Bee Foods

Lion Capital·2010

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Weight Watchers

Artal Group·1999

See full case study

What You Can Do

Take Action

Actions

  • Be on the lookout for changes in product quality, flavor, and consistency of Red Gold Tomatoes products

  • Consider switching to alternative brands or local/regional tomato producers if you notice a decline in Red Gold's product quality

  • Voice your concerns and feedback directly to the company to hold them accountable for any changes that negatively impact the consumer experience

Alternatives

Research independent alternativesSAFE

Look for family-owned or employee-owned businesses

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"Red Gold Tomatoes is now PE-owned. Here's what that means for you."