Winona Capital Management Forms Strategic Partnership With Schafer Condon Carter

CHICAGO, May 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Winona Capital Management has formed a strategic partnership with Chicago-based integrated marketing services firm Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) to provide brand planning and creative services for both existing businesses as well as potential acquisitions of consumer-facing brands. The partnership teams Winona Capital Management, an aggressive player in the mid-size private equity market primarily focused on consumer-branded companies from $10 million to $100 million in sales with SCC, a leading independent agency with a portfolio of consumer branded clients across numerous product categories.

"Our business is all about building brands, and providing growth capital to brands that have shown the potential to achieve dramatic growth in the marketplace," said Laird Koldyke, Managing Director, Winona Capital Management. "SCC brings both strategic insight and entrepreneurial creativity to add to our team's capabilities." SCC will be working with Winona to help evaluate the brand strength of incoming opportunities, provide services for select brands in its current portfolio as well as consult with Winona Capital Management on internal projects including the growth of their own brand.

Winona has piloted a number of recent business successes, including growing the global Peter Millar apparel brand, which was acquired by European luxury goods brand marketer Richemont, and Dragon Alliance, which was acquired by Marchon Eyewear. Current holdings include luxury retailer Circa, fast casual restaurant chain Boloco, Fusion Education Group, pet care retailer Petsense and Kjus, a designer and manufacturer of luxury, high performance ski and outerwear. Earlier in May, Winona announced a strategic investment in "I and love and you", a complete, multi-category natural pet solution that consists of kibble, canned and dehydrated food, as well as treats and supplements for cats and dogs. 

"We are very excited to be working with Winona on these important assignments," said SCC President and Managing Partner David Selby. "Winona's passion and unique approach to building world-class consumer brands is unmatched, and we look forward to helping them reach even higher levels of success with current portfolio companies and future acquisitions and investments."

As an agency, SCC is no stranger to the private equity business model.  Working with 6|Pacific they helped take New Chapter, a Vermont-based vitamin and supplement company, to #1 in the natural retail channel, with the brand subsequently being acquired by the world's largest CPG marketer. More recently, through a re-brand and aggressive marketing programming, they helped Victory Park Capital take the Giordano's pizza chain from bankruptcy to sustained year-over-year comp traffic and sales growth.

And then there's the SCC Incubator, where SCC acts as agency and equity partner. Their first project, West Loop Beverage resulted in the creation of the Hogwash Juice Drinks brand, which was acquired by one of the largest Pepsi bottlers in the U.S. Since then, they've taken positions in high-growth natural foods maker Good Foods Group; social media metrics start-up Social Market Analytics, recently named the social media metrics partner to the NYSE; and Uncle Dougie's, a natural foods brand which has now expanded distribution into Europe and Canada.

About Winona Capital Management
Winona Capital Management provides acquisition and growth capital to consumer goods and services businesses in the lower middle market. Winona partners with high energy, passionate executives who have a shared focus on building great brands with sustained growth over long-term investment horizons. Winona Capital manages more than $300 million on behalf of its Family Office and Institutional investors. For more information, please visit www.winonacapital.com.

About Schafer Condon Carter
Schafer Condon Carter is recognized as one of the top independent integrated agencies in the United States. Now celebrating its 25^th year of consecutive year-over-year growth, SCC has built its success by challenging convention and delivering a fully integrated brand vision for its clients across consumer touch points. A simple mission drives the agency's entrepreneurial spirit and rock & roll culture: "Think Again." SCC's client roster includes: Ad Council, Allen Edmonds, Campbell Soup Co., Chicago Cubs, ConAgra Foods, Giordano's, First Midwest Bank, The First Tee, Ideal Industries, Terlato Wines, Kerrygold, Land O'Lakes, National Pork Board, Procter & Gamble, Rotary International and Solo Cup. The agency's wholly owned resources include SCC|Public Relations and SCC|Digital.

SOURCE Schafer Condon Carter; Winona Capital Management