The past two years have been trying for the outdoor cooking industry, and it’s led to quite a bit of consolidation. From the upcoming Weber / Blackstone merger, to Camp Chef’s parent company being acquired, and a possible Middleby Outdoor acquisition on the horizon, it appears it’s speeding up if anything.
The M&A activity in the industry is also happening on the distribution side. It was revealed today that Palm Coast Sales is being acquired by Fourshore Partners.
Palm Coast Sales is a distributor based in Jupiter, Florida that was founded in 2000 by president and owner Dan O’Connor. It’s the distributor for the following brands and regions according to their website.
- Big Green Egg – Florida ONLY
- Challenger Cabinets & Outdoor Kitchens – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama
- Green Mountain Grills – Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee
- Napoleon Grills – Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee
- Dometic / Twin Eagles / Delta Heat – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama
- Halo Products – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama
Fourshore Partners is the private equity investment arm of Fourshore Capital, a family office located in Coral Gables, Florida. A family office is usually distinguished from traditional private equity by making investments on behalf of a family or close-knit group of investors.
With the ownership change, Nate Barbera has been announced as CEO. Nate replaces Dan O’Connor, who will transition to a board role with a minority interest in the company. It was noted in the email that sales representatives and contacts will remain the same through the transition. Kim O’Connor will also continue as COO of the company.