Salt Creek Forms The Flavor of California LLC
Feb. 20, 2019
Woodside, California – February 20, 2019: Salt Creek Capital is pleased to announce the formation of The Flavor of California, LLC in partnership with Julie Pantiskas and the subsequent acquisition of the Bob’s Big Boy Salad Dressings license. The Flavor of California now owns the exclusive license to manufacture and market the full line of Bob’s Big Boy Salad Dressings and Sauces throughout the Western United States. Julie Pantiskas, a proven and talented executive, will lead the Company as its new CEO. Ms. Pantiskas is an experienced and successful operating executive with over 30 years of operational management, business strategy, sales and marketing, manufacturing and distribution experience.
Kathy Taggares, Founder and President of former license holder KT’s Kitchens, Inc., said, “This business has been like a child to me, and now I feel like my “son” Bob is going off to college and getting ready to do big things under the leadership of Julie Pantiskas. It was a pleasure working with Julie and Salt Creek Capital on this transaction. I’ve cherished my time owning this business, but I am confident that the business is in the right hands going forward.”
David Crawford, CEO of Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC, stated, “Julie is an experienced leader with a history of accomplishments with consumer product companies, and she has the know-how to expand the Bob’s Salad Dressings and Sauces business. We are pleased to have her and Salt Creek Capital involved with Bob’s Big Boy as we seek to aggressively grow our brand.”
Julie Pantiskas, CEO of The Flavor of California, stated, “I’m excited to lead the next phase of growth with Bob’s Big Boy Salad Dressing and Sauces, a quintessential American brand. It was an honor working with Kathy, a successful woman entrepreneur in the food manufacturing industry, to complete a carve-out transaction that provided both liquidity and new leadership for this business, while allowing her to focus on her pizza business. I appreciate the partnership and support of Salt Creek, who helped ensure a smooth transaction and successful outcome for all parties.”
Salt Creek Capital’s Senior Associate, Tyler Romrell, added, “The Flavor of California and Bob’s Big Boy Salad Dressing present a unique opportunity to expand the reach of a line of highly recognizable and leading products that are a part of popular culture. It is a privilege to work with sellers like Kathy, and we appreciated the support of her advisors at Calabasas Capital during this transaction process. The team at Salt Creek looks forward to working with Julie and supporting The Flavor of California to grow the Bob’s Big Boy brand.”
About The Flavor of California
The Flavor of California, LLC is a licensee of Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC, whose brand includes Bob’s Big Boy, a quintessential American brand. The Company markets a line of branded Bob’s Big Boy refrigerated salad dressings, sauces, and assorted condiments, supplying both the chain’s restaurants and grocery stores throughout the Pacific Coast and Southwestern United States in over 4,300 locations. Bob’s Big Boy has been a household name in its region for over 50 years, and its refrigerated bleu cheese dressing is the #1 selling dressing in its category. For more information, please contact Julie Pantiskas at Julie@FlavorofCalifornia.com or visit www.FlavorofCalifornia.com.
About Salt Creek Capital
Salt Creek Capital is a San Francisco Bay Area-based private equity firm that partners with experienced operating executives to acquire profitable companies with up to $100 million in revenue. Salt Creek Capital takes a long-term approach to investing in lower middle market businesses and seeks to create value by working closely with management teams to accelerate growth and improve operating efficiencies. For more information, please contact Tyler Romrell at tyler@saltcreekcap.com or visit www.saltcreekcap.com.