Fortune International LLC announced it has acquired Neesvig’s Inc., a Windsor, Wisconsin, U.S.A.-based seafood and meat processor and distributor.
Neesvig’s is also the operator of Empire Fish, a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin-based retail store, and a fulfillment operation in DeForest, Wisconsin. The details of the transaction were not disclosed by either company.
“We are excited to strengthen our meat program with our own processing facility and continue to grow the fulfillment operation with additional locations,” Fortune President and CEO Sean O’Scannlain said. “We are delighted to welcome the gifted Neesvig’s and Empire Fish team to the Fortune family.”
The acquisition, according to a release from Fortune, will allow Fortune Fish & Gourmet “to better service the upper Midwest with expanded distribution capabilities, and the rest of the nation with a state-of-the-art fulfillment operation specializing in direct-to-consumer e-commerce fulfillment services.”
Neesvig’s processing and distribution facilities will be converted to Fortune’s ERP, inventory management, and routing software, while Neesvig’s fulfillment center will continue to use its “best in class” software, the company said.
Neesvig’s Inc. was founded in 1913, and has been owned by Jim and Margaret Meyer since 1988. According to Fortune, the company is one of the country’s oldest and largest independent distributors and processors of premium meats and seafood.
“Margaret and I could not have selected a better partner than Fortune Fish to carry on the proud history of Neesvig’s,” Neesvig’s CEO James Meyer said. “We have enjoyed 32 years as owner/operators of Neesvig’s and want to thank every member of the Neesvig’s family, both past and present, for their tireless efforts over the years. We know that we are leaving the company in great hands with Sean and his team and we look forward to watching the companies prosper in the years to come. We also want to thank our wonderful customers for the opportunity to serve them throughout the years.”
The acquisition by Fortune is the latest, and largest, in a string of acquisitions since 2012. Its latest purchases in 2020 was pastry specialist Eurogourmet, and the Kansas City, Missouri operations of Seattle Fish. The company purchased Morey’s Seafood International’s St. Louis and Kansas City operations in March 2019. All told, Fortune International has acquired nine separate companies.
Fortune itself was the subject of an acquisition in February, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence report. Investcorp, a Bahrain-based investment company with over USD 28 billion (EUR 23 billion) in assets, reportedly acquired a majority stake in the company.
