Harris Williams & Co., a preeminent middle market investment bank focused on the advisory needs of clients worldwide for 25 years, announces the sale of PANOS Brands, LLC to Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company, Inc. PANOS is a leading provider of branded consumer foods in a wide variety of growing categories. Known for its unique portfolio of brands, the company has consistently expanded its footprint over the last few years with a focus on providing consumers with high quality, great tasting and better for you products in the specialty, natural, organic and mass grocery channels. Harris Williams & Co. served as the exclusive advisor to PANOS, a portfolio company of High Road Capital Partners. The transaction was led by Glenn Gurtcheff, Tim Alexander, Ryan Budlong, Andy Warczak and Wes Lilja of Harris Williams & Co.’s Consumer Group.

“PANOS’ management has executed numerous brand development initiatives to establish PANOS as a leading, differentiated portfolio of trusted consumer brands,” said Glenn Gurtcheff, a managing director at Harris Williams & Co. “The company’s on-trend product offerings, new product development capabilities, and diversified customer base garnered significant interest in the market. We believe management has a terrific partner in HKW, and we are looking forward to the company’s continued success.”

“Consumers continue to embrace natural, organic, non-GMO, better for you and free from products that are consistent with healthier lifestyles,” added Ryan Budlong, a managing director at Harris Williams & Co. “Harris Williams & Co. continues to see exceptionally strong buyer interest in food companies that are well positioned within the better for you food category.”

PANOS’ unique portfolio of natural and specialty food brands include Andrew & Everett, KA-ME, MI-DEL, Sesmark, Amore and Chatfield’s. The company’s brands are trusted by consumers and participate in fast-growing and on-trend specialty, natural, better for you, free from, and organic food categories. PANOS was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Rochelle Park, New Jersey.