Houlihan Lokey Advises Winco

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Winco has merged with G.E.T. Enterprises (G.E.T.), a portfolio company of Olympus Partners (Olympus). The transaction closed on December 8, 2017. 

Houlihan Lokey's Specialty Distribution team has earned a reputation for working with premier distribution, supply chain, and virtual manufacturing clients, providing superior client service and delivering outstanding results. This transaction highlights our deep sector expertise and continued success advising within the foodservice supply chain, including products, parts, supplies, and equipment, and demonstrates Houlihan Lokey's commitment to thoughtful positioning and a tailored M&A sale process, which help to maximize value and certainty for our clients.

Winco is a leading supplier of commercial kitchen and restaurant ware in North America. Winco was founded in 1992 by CEO David Li and CFO Peggy Ding who, along with other early team members, developed the company into a key supplier to the North American foodservice industry. As a result of its clear market strategy and precise product positioning, Winco has achieved exceptional growth over the last 25 years. Through a commitment to customer-focused service, along with a unique strength in product development and sourcing, Winco is proud to be an award-winning supplier partner for foodservice operators and distributors. With an extensive offering of over 5,000 products across 20 categories spanning from tabletop to back-of-the-house items, Winco is a leading preferred brand among professional chefs and restaurateurs.

G.E.T. is a leading supplier of high-quality dinnerware, drinkware, and displayware crafted from melamine and alternative materials. G.E.T.’s tableware portfolio features the look and feel of traditional materials while delivering unique designs with exceptional durability benefits. The company’s dedication to quality, reliability, and customer service has made it a favorite among national restaurant chains, universities, caterers, hotels, contract feeders, and other foodservice establishments. G.E.T. was acquired by Olympus in 2016 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Olympus is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle-market management buyouts and companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries, including restaurants, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services, packaging, and business services. Olympus manages in excess of $5.5 billion on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds, and state-sponsored retirement programs. Olympus is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.