Webinar: Seizing Opportunities: Food Manufacturing M&A Insights for 2024 by The Food Institute

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About This Webinar

Despite the challenges and risks within the U.S. economy, the food manufacturing industry remains a bright spot in the M&A world. What trends are taking form? What can be expected in terms of deal volume and valuations for the remainder of 2024 and beyond? Also, what opportunities do seasoned investors envision?

In this exclusive webinar, The Food Institute examined emerging trends, projected deal volume and valuations for the remainder of 2024 and beyond, and explored key opportunities identified by seasoned investors. Moderated by Helana Robbins Huddleston, Transaction Partner and Co-Leader of Manufacturing & Distribution at CohnReznick, the panel featured insights from Thomas Gellert, Principal of Gellert Global Group, and Craig Gibson, Head of Consumer Products at TM Capital.

Key topics discussed included food and beverage trends, strategic drivers, and the future outlook from investors.

If you missed the live event, you can still access the on-demand version to watch at your convenience!

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Thanks to our sponsor: CohnReznick LLP

About CohnReznick
As a leading advisory, assurance, and tax firm, CohnReznick helps forward-thinking organizations achieve their vision by optimizing performance, maximizing value, and managing risk. Clients benefit from the right team with the right capabilities; proven processes customized to their individual needs; and leaders with vital industry knowledge and relationships. Headquartered in New York, NY with offices nationwide, the firm serves organizations around the world through its global subsidiaries and membership in Nexia International. For more information, visit www.cohnreznick.com.

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Thomas Gellert

Principal, Gellert Global Group

Before joining Atalanta as Vice President of the Cheese Division in 2002, Tom had a diverse career. After earning a B.S. in Food Industry Management from Cornell in 1994, he worked as an Export Sales-Regional Manager for Vello, SRL in Italy. Tom is fluent in Italian and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

He returned to Cornell, earning an MBA in 1999 and a J.D. in 2000. Tom then joined Deutsche Bank Alex Brown as a Consumer Group Investment Banking Associate, where he worked on M&A projects and passed the New York State Bar Exam.

In 2002, Tom joined Atalanta Corporation and is now President, overseeing Business Development, Supply Chain, and Sales/Marketing. He is also a Principal at Gellert Global Group and President of several subsidiaries. Tom directs the Group’s M&A activities and has served on various boards, including the Cheese Importers Association of America and Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Advisory Board.

Craig Gibson

Managing Director, Head of Consumer Products, TM Capital

Craig Gibson is a Managing Director at TM Capital and head of the firm’s Consumer Products Investment Banking Group. Craig has advised on many of the most noteworthy M&A and financing transactions across the consumer spectrum and has a specialized focus on the food & beverage sector. Over the last two decades, he has completed f&b industry transactions with: Superior On Main, Uncle Wally’s, Saco Foods/ California Sun Dry, Engelman’s, Chuckanut Bay Foods, Hostess, Sara Lee, Mondelez, Tate’s Cookies, Second Nature Brands and Brownie Brittle, among others.

Craig is also a well-respected thought leader, spearheads TM Capital’s consumer research efforts and is often asked to speak on emerging brand trends, evolving consumer behavior and disruptive channel developments. Earlier in his career, Craig was a national winner of the M&A Advisor Top 40 Under 40 Dealmaker award.

Prior to joining TM Capital, Craig co-founded Boston Corporate Finance and was part of the consumer investment banking team at Advest, now Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Craig holds a BA from Union College and received his MBA from the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management.

Helana Robbins Huddleston

Transaction Partner and Co-Leader, Manufacturing & Distribution, CohnReznick

Helana Robbins Huddleston provides transaction and related advisory services to clients in a range of different industries. She has over 22 years of expertise in financial due diligence, restructuring, cash flow budgeting, financial auditing, internal control evaluation, and business process improvement. In addition to her role in transaction advisory, Helana is the Transaction Partner and Co-Leader of CohnReznick’s Manufacturing & Distribution practice and is a member of the Firm's Private Equity and Venture Capital Industry Practice.

Helana leads buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence engagements with strategic and financial buyers for private and public companies in the middle market. She manages the complexity of carve-out transactions including assisting on synergy cost analyses and transition service agreements. Her diverse industry experience includes manufacturing and distribution, food and beverage, retail, technology, government, construction, hospitality, and business services.

Helana has provided accounting and consulting services to financially troubled companies with sales ranging from $80 million to $350 million. In this role, she has advised clients in multiple areas including cash management, financial projections and modeling, operational cost improvement and cost reductions, and implementing internal control processes. She has also advised senior secured creditors in and out of bankruptcy proceedings.

Helana began her career with a Big 4 firm where, among other things, she led a buy-side transaction with an enterprise value of $10 billion.