Mizkan Group’s US arm has acquired local cocktail mixers brand Zing Zang from private equity investor NexPhase Capital.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Chicago, Zing Zang produces a variety of ready-made mixes for cocktails, including a Bloody Mary and Piña Colada mix.
Its products are sold in 300,000 points of sale throughout the US across retail and foodservice channels.
In a statement, Mizkan’s US leg, Mizkan America, said the deal would “expand its presence in the cocktail-mixers category, a key growth engine for the company”.
Japan’s Mizkan Group produces vinegars, Italian and Asian cooking sauces, cooking wines, and sushi seasoning, with brands such as Ragú, Bertolli, and Holland House.
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By GlobalDataMizkan’s US branch said it planned to “leverage its unique expertise in tomato-based foods to spur growth and innovation across the two organisations”.
Diego Palmieri, Mizkan America president and COO, said: “As a leader in the US pasta sauce and vinegar categories, this acquisition solidifies the company’s position in a growing third space.”
The company already distributes Angostura bitters in North America, which Palmieri said gave it “strong expertise in this area”.
“We see the acquisition of Zing Zang as a win-win,” he added.
Brent Albertson, CEO of Zing Zang, said: “By uniting our strengths and deep expertise, we are poised to accelerate innovation, broaden our impact and deliver even greater experiences to our customers and distribution partners.”
Under NexPhase Capital’s ownership since 2016, Zing Zang invested in building an in-house sales team, a new distribution network, and launching new packaging formats.
“We are proud to have partnered with the Zing Zang team to help build a category leader,” said Jamie Kaufman, partner and head of consumer at NexPhase.
“By focusing on national distribution, insight-driven innovation and supply chain excellence, Zing Zang has built a powerful platform that delivers premium, accessible cocktail experiences to more consumers, in more ways. It has been a privilege to support Zing Zang’s journey, and we’re confident the Company is well-positioned for continued success with Mizkan.”
