Livingstone Completes Sale of Oberweis Dairy to The Hoffmann Family of Companies

Livingstone is pleased to announce the successful sale of Oberweis Dairy, Inc. (“Oberweis” or the “Company”) to The Hoffmann Family of Companies, including Osprey Capital (“Hoffman”). The transaction allows Oberweis to keep its locations open, preserve jobs, and position the Company to benefit from renewed investment. 

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in North Aurora, IL, Oberweis is recognized as one of the Midwest’s leading brands of premium fluid milk and ice cream products. It serves its customer base through signature dairy stores, retail grocery distribution, and personalized direct-to-doorstop home delivery.

Hoffmann is a multi-vertical, family-owned private equity firm with over 100 national brands. It employs 9,000 global employees and has businesses in 30 countries and 250 locations worldwide.  The family has extensive experience partnering with family-owned businesses to provide capital to fund growth and improvements.

In the wake of financial difficulties, the Company filed voluntary petitions for relief on April 12, 2024. The acquisition by Hoffmann is the culmination of a months-long marketing process for the Company that began prepetition and continued through the bankruptcy proceeding.  The sale to Hoffmann preserved the Company’s operations, retail locations, storied brand, and hundreds of jobs, while positioning the Company for continued growth.

“This thoughtful choice ensures that Oberweis continues to thrive, innovate, and uphold its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Partnering with Hoffmann was an easy decision as they share the same values and vision that have been the foundation of our success,” noted Adam Kraber, who will continue as president of Oberweis. 

“This transaction presented significant challenges, yet we are thrilled with the excellent outcome for our client. As a fellow Chicago-based company and a personal fan of Oberweis products, it was a privilege to be part of this sale,” added Joe Greenwood, Partner at Livingstone.

Livingstone’s Special Situations practice brings extensive knowledge of assisting middle-market companies with mergers and acquisitions, financing, and restructuring their balance sheets during underperformance, financial distress, and insolvency.