Executive Search Success Story: Upgrading Leadership at a PE-Backed Natural Foods Platform

How JRG Partners ran a confidential, multi-role search for a private equity-backed natural foods company integrating acquisitions and driving transformation.

This was a private equity-backed transformation mandate following multiple acquisitions; ownership and identifying details are withheld at the client’s request.

The Challenge

A private equity-backed natural foods company had completed several acquisitions and was preparing for a major transformation focused on operational efficiency and profitability. It needed leadership to integrate acquired brands and build a unified organization. Leadership identified several pressures:

• Integration of newly acquired brands
• A need for stronger executive leadership across multiple business units
• Improving profitability and operational efficiency
• Scaling distribution and customer relationships
• Building a unified organizational culture
• Succession planning across critical leadership positions

The board and sponsor set out to recruit a leadership team spanning Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, VP Operations, VP Human Resources, Director of Strategic Planning, and Director of Business Development. It needed a partner with deep natural foods and value-creation expertise.

Why They Chose JRG Partners

After evaluating several search firms, the client chose JRG Partners for four key reasons:

Deep Natural Foods & Value-Creation Specialization

Our dedicated practices span natural foods, multi-brand integration, operations, and PE-backed value creation. We understand how to identify leadership equipped to execute thesis-driven operational changes.

Real Access to Passive Talent

Many of the strongest natural foods leaders are not actively looking. We drew on long-standing relationships and proprietary market intelligence to reach leaders invisible through conventional channels.

Confidential Search Execution

With acquisition integration underway, we ran a discreet process that protected continuity and investor confidence during a critical transition window.

Nationwide Reach

The search targeted and mapped experienced leaders from natural and organic food brands, enterprise CPG organizations, and competing PE portfolio companies.

Our Executive Search Strategy

Phase 1 — Leadership Assessment

We worked directly with the CEO, board, and executive team to map organizational gaps, succession risks, growth objectives, and the competencies the business would need as it scaled. Profiles were built against the company’s long-term strategy rather than legacy job descriptions.

Phase 2 — Market Mapping

Our market map spanned natural food brands, organic food manufacturers, consumer packaged goods companies, private equity portfolio companies, and specialty food organizations.

Phase 3 — Engagement

Our consultants discreetly engaged leaders with proven records in natural foods integration, synergy capture, and private equity value creation. Only candidates with measurable impact advanced.

Phase 4 — Assessment & Selection

Each finalist went through extensive evaluation covering strategic and functional capability, leadership and team-building, cultural alignment, and long-term retention.