NutriScience Innovations supplies premium proprietary ingredients to the world’s largest nutraceutical, dietary supplement and food & beverage companies.

CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 30, 2021  |  Tilia Holdings (“Tilia”), a Chicago-based private investment firm focused exclusively on the food and nutrition supply chain, completed its investment in NutriScience Innovations, LLC (“NutriScience” or the “Company”) from Lakeview Equity Partners on April 21, 2021.  Headquartered in Milford, CT, NutriScience is a cGMP-certified developer and supplier of proprietary science-based dietary supplement and functional food ingredients to companies that manufacture nutraceutical, food and beverage, and dietary supplement products.

Eric Larson, Co-CEO of Tilia who will serve as Chairman of the Board, said, “We are delighted by the opportunity to work with Alan Yengoyan, Dr. Michael Lelah, and the talented NutriScience team as they build upon their established and proven strategy:  to develop and supply proprietary, high quality ingredients to the health & wellness market.”  Johannes Burlin, Jim Miller and Rob Celin of Tilia also joined the Board of NutriScience Innovations.

NutriScience was established in 1993 by Jacob and Martha Pallathra who, in 2017, partnered with Lakeview Equity Partners to help take the company to the next level of performance. “The leadership and strategic vision of Alan Yengoyan, CEO, with whom we originally partnered in this investment, was a key contributor to the robust growth and performance we experienced with this investment; we are thrilled to have partnered with Alan and his team,” said W. Kent Velde, President of Lakeview Equity Partners, a Milwaukee-based private equity fund.  Alan Yengoyan, who has served as President & CEO of NutriScience since 2017, will continue to lead the company going forward and serve on the Company’s Board. 

“We are thrilled to be joining Tilia to actively support its mission of discovering the potential within the global food and nutrition supply chain,” Yengoyan said. “With Tilia, NutriScience will continue its mission to discover new ingredients, invest in science and provide our customers with new ideas and exceptional customer & technical service.  This, along with Tilia’s expertise and support to accelerate our strategic initiatives provides a fantastic foundation for growth.”

Johannes Burlin, Co-CEO of Tilia, said, “Our investment in NutriScience represents our commitment to execute our deep sector focused strategy.  NutriScience has earned a marketplace reputation for technical expertise, reliability and quality through its longstanding commitment of delivering specialty ingredient solutions to leading dietary supplement, nutraceutical and functional food brands over the past two decades.”  Jim Miller, Tilia Operating Partner, added, “NutriScience, with their science-based ingredient sourcing and selling approach combined with their comprehensive portfolio of proprietary, branded ingredients, is uniquely positioned to help food and nutritional supplement customers address the growing consumer trends of personalized nutrition and a wellness lifestyle.  We are excited to support Alan and the NutriScience team in achieving their growth objectives.” 

Mayer Brown LLP served as legal counsel to Tilia and Twin Brook Capital Partners provided debt financing in support of the transaction.  Alantra LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal counsel to NutriScience Innovations.

ABOUT NUTRISCIENCE INNOVATIONS

NutriScience Innovations supplies a suite of branded and specialty ingredients to the world’s most innovative nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and dietary supplement companies.  The company helps leading manufacturers develop products that make man- (and animal) kind healthier and happier by providing the highest quality ingredients and materials available.  For more information on NutriScience, please visit https://nutriscienceusa.com/.

ABOUT TILIA HOLDINGS

Tilia is a Chicago-based private investment firm focused exclusively on making control investments in the evolving “farm-to-fork” segment of the global food supply chain. Tilia partners with growing, middle market companies who provide business services across the food supply chain and support leading, emerging and private-label CPG brands. The firm’s sector focused strategy is a successful approach to investments that spans three decades. Tilia believes its deep understanding of operations, its subject matter expertise in the food chain, and its disciplined approach to value creation uniquely position the firm to scale business services companies in the lower middle market. Through a value creation & governance model emphasizing stewardship, Tilia builds distinctive growth companies that enhance safety, nutrition & sustainability in the food supply chain.  For more information, please visit www.tiliallc.com.