Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specializing in the food and beverage industry, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sabert Holding Corp., a global manufacturer of food packaging solutions. The acquisition expands Butterfly’s portfolio of businesses serving the food industry and provides an opportunity to support Sabert’s continued growth across foodservice, grocery, restaurant, and food processing markets. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Sayreville, New Jersey, Sabert manufactures food packaging products using plastic, paper, and molded fiber.
The company operates 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide, including nine in the United States, and employs approximately 3,000 people.
Its customers include foodservice distributors, supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants, quick-service restaurant chains, fresh protein suppliers, and food processors.
Sabert’s product portfolio addresses the growing demand for packaging that supports food safety, convenience, presentation, and sustainability. Its manufacturing capabilities allow the company to develop packaging solutions for businesses operating across different distribution channels and food categories.
Innovation has been central to Sabert’s development. The company holds more than 400 product patents and maintains dedicated research, tooling, and product development capabilities.
Its manufacturing operations span North America, Europe, and Asia, with facilities in California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Belgium, England, Poland, and China.
Sabert uses its proprietary Packaging Value Model to incorporate information about food lifecycles and consumer lifestyles into product development. The framework emphasizes five areas: performance, presentation, safety, sustainability, and economics.
The acquisition advances Butterfly’s strategy of investing in businesses that provide essential products and services throughout the food and beverage value chain.
Rather than focusing exclusively on food manufacturers or restaurant operators, Butterfly invests across the broader food ecosystem, including businesses that supply the infrastructure, technology, ingredients, and packaging necessary to bring food products to consumers.
Sabert will complement Butterfly’s existing investment in ePac Flexible Packaging, further expanding its presence in the food packaging industry.
Following the transaction, Albert Salama, Sabert’s Founder and Executive Chairman, will remain a significant minority investor through a rollover investment.
His continued ownership will align the interests of Sabert’s founder, management team, and Butterfly as they pursue additional growth opportunities.
Butterfly will work alongside Salama, Sabert CEO Paul McCann, and the company’s broader management team to expand its operations and continue investing in product development.
The acquisition comes as consumer preferences for convenience and flexibility influence food packaging requirements across grocery stores, restaurants, prepared foods, and delivery services.
Butterfly intends to apply its relationships and industry expertise to help Sabert expand its customer relationships and develop products that address these evolving requirements.
Founded in 2016, Butterfly has invested in a portfolio of food and beverage businesses representing approximately $12 billion in enterprise value, including Sabert.
Its investments include Custom Flavors, ePac Flexible Packaging, The Duckhorn Portfolio, Rise Baking Company, Actus Nutrition, Chosen Foods, Pete and Gerry’s, MaryRuth Organics, Orgain, Generous Brands, Bolthouse Fresh Foods, and QDOBA.
Support: Kirkland & Ellis served as Butterfly’s legal advisor, while KPMG provided financial and tax advisory services. UBS Investment Bank and Goldman Sachs served as financial advisors to Sabert, with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and FBT Gibbons providing legal counsel. Committed financing for the transaction is being provided by UBS Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs & Co., and KKR Capital Markets.
KEY QUOTES:
“For more than four decades, Sabert has been focused on developing unique solutions that help our customers respond to the changing ways consumers eat and live. Butterfly’s deep expertise and understanding of our customers and end markets make them an ideal partner for our next chapter. We look forward to working together to continue investing in innovation and delivering exceptional products and services to our customers.”
Albert Salama, Founder and Executive Chairman of Sabert
“Sabert is exactly the type of business we look for at Butterfly: a category-leading player with deep roots across the food ecosystem, differentiated capabilities and tremendous opportunities for continued growth. As consumers increasingly prioritize convenience and flexibility in how and where they eat, packaging plays an essential role in enabling the food industry to meet those needs. We are thrilled to partner with Albert, Sabert CEO, Paul McCann, and the entire Sabert team to build on the incredible business they have created.”
Adam Waglay, CEO, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Butterfly Equity
