News
Warburg Pincus Announces Agreement to Acquire FlavorSum Jul 28, 2025
Investment will accelerate growth of leading natural flavors provider to meet increasing industry demand
New York, NY – July 28, 2025 – Warburg Pincus, the pioneer of private equity global growth investing, today announced an agreement to acquire FlavorSum (“the Company”), a leading provider of natural flavor solutions for food & beverage companies, from The Riverside Company. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
FlavorSum develops and produces custom natural liquid flavors, extracts, and flavor systems used across food and beverage applications, primarily serving high-growth, disruptive brands. With core competencies in R&D and application support, the Company offers its customers standout flavor formulation capabilities, combined with industry-leading operational excellence, and customer experience.
“We are proud of the team and the pure-play flavor platform we built during our partnership with Riverside,” said FlavorSum CEO Brian Briggs. “Over Riverside’s investment period, FlavorSum acquired and fully integrated four complementary add-on acquisitions, completed a 35k sq. ft. facility expansion, and invested strategically in R&D, applications, and sales and marketing. Our solutions model drives industry-leading organic growth, and we have become the “Acquirer of Choice” through our acquisition and integration strategies and success. We look forward to building upon this foundation and driving future growth with our new partners at Warburg Pincus."
“FlavorSum has been purpose-built for the unique needs of fast-growing, innovative brands, offering an unmatched combination of service (across R&D support, short lead times and best-in-class reliability) with the industry’s deepest flavor and application expertise,” said Zach Lazar, Managing Director at Warburg Pincus. “FlavorSum is particularly well-positioned to meet the growing demand for natural solutions across food and beverage applications. We are tremendously excited to partner with Brian and the FlavorSum team to continue the Company’s standout growth, including actively pursuing add-on acquisitions.”
“We enjoyed the opportunity to partner with the FlavorSum team, and we wish them much success in their next chapter,” said Riverside Micro-Cap Fund Senior Partner Alan Peyrat. “FlavorSum is well-positioned for its next phase of growth as we pass the baton to Warburg Pincus.”
The transaction is expected to close later in the third quarter.
Houlihan Lokey and Cascadia Capital are acting as financial advisors to FlavorSum, and Jones Day is acting as legal counsel. BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Warburg Pincus, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is acting as legal counsel.
About FlavorSum
FlavorSum helps growing North American food and beverage companies go to market quickly and cost-effectively. The company provides flavor solutions for delivering great-tasting products that inspire loyalty among today’s consumers. With nearly 100k square feet of manufacturing space across North America, along with a dedicated innovation center, FlavorSum is the fastest growing North American flavor company.
About Warburg Pincus
Warburg Pincus LLC is the pioneer of private equity global growth investing. A private partnership since 1966, the firm has the flexibility and experience to focus on helping investors and management teams achieve enduring success across market cycles. Today, the firm has more than $87 billion in assets under management, and more than 220 companies in its active portfolio, diversified across stages, sectors, and geographies. Warburg Pincus has invested in more than 1,000 companies across its private equity, real estate, and capital solutions strategies.
The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.warburgpincus.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About The Riverside Company
The Riverside Company is a global investment firm focused on being one of the leading private capital and credit options for business owners and portfolio company employees at the smaller end of the middle market by seeking to fuel transformative growth and create lasting value. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has made more than 1,000 investments. The firm’s current international private equity and flexible capital portfolios include more than 140 companies.
Media Contacts
Warburg Pincus
Kerrie Cohen
Global Head of Communications & Marketing
kerrie.cohen@warburgpincus.com
Lisa Jackson
Director – Marketing
ljackson@flavorsum.com
Holly Mueller
Marketing Consultant
hmueller@riversidecompany.com