Food, Beverage & Consumer Goods

KO client Woof, the award-winning pet company, was recently acquired by The Farmer’s Dog, the leader in real, human-grade dog food. This combination brings together nutrition, enrichment, and everyday wellness to help dogs live healthier, happier lives. “From the beginning, our goal has been to build products that make everyday…

Longtime KO client Goodles, the brand that reimagined boxed mac and cheese, was recently acquired by the Barilla Group, an international, family-owned food company that operates in more than 100 countries. Goodles will continue to operate independently as a standalone brand. Since Goodles was founded in 2020, we’ve been proud…

Congratulations to two KO Law clients on recently being recognized as EY Entrepreneurs Of The Year, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for visionary entrepreneurs leading high-growth companies. Jen Zeszut, CEO and co-founder of KO client GOODLES, was recently named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Bay Area…

Every year Natural Products Expo West offers a snapshot of where the food and beverage industry is heading. Today’s most successful brands are combining function, flavor, and brand identity in increasingly creative ways. From protein-packed everything to bold, nostalgic flavors and highly targeted health solutions, this year’s show reflected an…

KO client Havenly Brands has expanded with its recent acquisition of design platform The Expert, an online virtual consultation and ecommerce platform for interior designers. “This marks an important evolution for Havenly Brands,” said Lee Mayer. “By welcoming The Expert, we’re doubling down on a human-led, technology-powered future for interior…

Looking ahead, there is a sense of optimism for the 2026 M&A landscape. The surge in deal value and the reopening of the IPO window in late 2025 have signaled a much-needed return of market liquidity. We are seeing a convergence of expectations: recent down-round IPOs suggest that sellers and…

KO client pet industry veteran Avrum Elmakis recently acquired the majority of Citizens Pet Products, the parent company of trusted pet food and treat brands Plato Pet Treats and Furry Republic. According to the announcement, Citizens Pet Products will focus on brand growth and private label and contract manufacturing. Citizens…

KO client humbl pet food recently launched, led by founder and CEO Avrum Elmakis, a pet industry veteran known for founding and scaling the natural dog treat company TDBBS and for his leadership role growing premium pet brand Woof. The pet food brand is launching with a line of five…