Fortune International, a Bensenville, Illinois, USA-based processor, distributor and importer of seafood, meats and gourmet food products, has purchased Neesvig’s, Inc., a Windsor, Wisconsin-headquartered processor and distributor of meats and seafood. The acquired company also operates Empire Fish, a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin-based retail store, and a fulfillment operation in DeForest. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Already ranked as one of the USA’s largest seafood and specialty food processors and distributors, this deal further expands Fortune International’s Fortune Fish & Gourmet brand with its first designated meat processing facility. Furthermore, the addition of Neesvig’s positions the company to better serve the upper Midwest with expanded distribution capabilities, and the rest of the nation with a dedicated operation specializing in direct-to-consumer e-commerce fulfillment services.
The processing and distribution facility will be enhanced with the conversion to Fortune’s state-of-the-art ERP, inventory management, and routing software. Neesvig’s fulfillment center is already equipped with best in class software utilizing voice-picking technology and automated sort and ship capabilities.
Sean J. O’Scannlain, Fortune’s president and chief executive officer, stated: “We are excited to strengthen our meat program with our own processing facility and continue to grow the fulfillment operation with additional locations. We are delighted to welcome the gifted Neesvig’s and Empire Fish team to the Fortune family.”
Founded in 1913 and owned by Jim and Margaret Meyer since 1988, Neesvig’s is one of America’s oldest and largest independent processors and distributors of premium meats and seafood. It is one of the nation’s first independent distributors of Certified Angus Beef and enjoys strategic partnerships with elite producers including Niman Ranch and Bell & Evans, among many others.
Empire Fish also started in 1913 as a retail seafood market and wholesale distributor in Milwaukee, and was purchased by the Meyers in 1995.
Neesvig’s and Empire Fish combined their meat and seafood processing facilities into one location in 2017 and began operating under the Neesvig’s brand. The Empire Fish retail market continues to serve southeastern Wisconsin from its location in Wauwatosa. In 2012, Neesvig’s Fulfillment expanded its perishable mail order and drop ship business into a state-of-the-art fulfillment facility in DeForest.
Neesvig’s represents Fortune International’s ninth and largest transaction since launching its acquisition strategy in 2012, which has been further accelerated since entering into a partnership in 2020 with Investcorp, a leading global alternative asset manager. Fortune’s previous purchases included JDY Gourmet in 2012, Chef Martin Old World Butcher Shop in 2014, Coastal Seafoods in 2016, Morey’s Seafood International of Missouri in April of 2019, Classic Provisions Inc. in June of 2019, Jubilee Seafoods in July of 2019, Seattle Fish of Missouri in January of 2020 and EuroGourmet in March of 2020.
