Key Takeaways
- • Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specializing in food and beverage, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sabert Holding Corp., a global food packaging manufacturer founded in 1983 with $240 million in annual EBITDA.
- • Sabert operates 13 manufacturing facilities globally (9 in the U.S.) with capabilities spanning plastic, paper, and molded fiber packaging, supported by over 400 product patents and serves foodservice distribution, supermarkets, restaurants, QSRs, and food processors.
- • The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026; financial terms were not disclosed, though Sabert's recent acquisition activity includes purchases of Colpac (fiber-based packaging), Kalman Packaging (bakery and supermarket focus), and Mullinix (U.S. firm projected to boost annual sales above $500 million).
- • Butterfly's acquisition augments its portfolio of critical food and beverage businesses, leveraging its specialized expertise in the $28 trillion food sector to support Sabert's continued innovation and growth trajectory.
- • Albert Salama, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sabert, cited Butterfly's deep understanding of customers and end markets as the rationale for the partnership going forward.
Summary
Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm with a focused mandate in the food and beverage sector, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Sabert Holding Corp., a leading global manufacturer of innovative and sustainable food packaging solutions. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2026, though financial terms remain undisclosed. Butterfly specializes exclusively in the $28 trillion food sector and positions this acquisition as a strategic augmentation of its portfolio of critical businesses shaping the food and beverage industry.
Sabert, headquartered in Sayreville, New Jersey, was founded in 1983 and has established itself as a scaled food packaging platform with diversified manufacturing capabilities. The company operates 13 manufacturing facilities globally—nine located in the United States—and maintains production expertise across plastic, paper, and molded fiber substrates. Sabert's competitive positioning is reinforced by over 400 product patents and dedicated research, tooling, and innovation capabilities. The company generated $240 million in EBITDA over the past year and serves a broad customer base spanning foodservice distribution, supermarkets and grocery retailers, restaurants and quick-service restaurants (QSRs), and fresh protein and food processors.
Prior to the Butterfly acquisition, Sabert demonstrated active organic growth and acquisition strategy. The company has completed several strategic acquisitions including Colpac (a fiber-based packaging producer), Kalman Packaging (expanding presence in bakery and supermarket segments with thermoformed plastic solutions), and Mullinix (a U.S. firm that positioned Sabert's combined annual sales to exceed $500 million). These moves underscore management's commitment to expanding product portfolio depth and geographic reach.
Albert Salama, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sabert, endorsed the partnership, stating that Butterfly's deep expertise and understanding of customer and end-market dynamics position the firm as an ideal partner for the company's next phase of development. Salama emphasized Sabert's four-decade track record of developing unique solutions that address evolving consumer eating patterns and lifestyles. The transaction reflects broader consolidation trends within the food packaging sector, where specialized platforms with established customer relationships and patent portfolios attract institutional capital seeking exposure to resilient, innovation-driven businesses serving essential consumer and foodservice end markets.
Sabert, headquartered in Sayreville, New Jersey, was founded in 1983 and has established itself as a scaled food packaging platform with diversified manufacturing capabilities. The company operates 13 manufacturing facilities globally—nine located in the United States—and maintains production expertise across plastic, paper, and molded fiber substrates. Sabert's competitive positioning is reinforced by over 400 product patents and dedicated research, tooling, and innovation capabilities. The company generated $240 million in EBITDA over the past year and serves a broad customer base spanning foodservice distribution, supermarkets and grocery retailers, restaurants and quick-service restaurants (QSRs), and fresh protein and food processors.
Prior to the Butterfly acquisition, Sabert demonstrated active organic growth and acquisition strategy. The company has completed several strategic acquisitions including Colpac (a fiber-based packaging producer), Kalman Packaging (expanding presence in bakery and supermarket segments with thermoformed plastic solutions), and Mullinix (a U.S. firm that positioned Sabert's combined annual sales to exceed $500 million). These moves underscore management's commitment to expanding product portfolio depth and geographic reach.
Albert Salama, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sabert, endorsed the partnership, stating that Butterfly's deep expertise and understanding of customer and end-market dynamics position the firm as an ideal partner for the company's next phase of development. Salama emphasized Sabert's four-decade track record of developing unique solutions that address evolving consumer eating patterns and lifestyles. The transaction reflects broader consolidation trends within the food packaging sector, where specialized platforms with established customer relationships and patent portfolios attract institutional capital seeking exposure to resilient, innovation-driven businesses serving essential consumer and foodservice end markets.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.