Everett, Washington-based Cascade Coffee, a leading coffee roasting and packaging company in the United States, has secured an undisclosed investment from Chicago-based LaSalle Capital.
Expanding Capabilities Under New Leadership
Cascade Coffee operates a state-of-the-art facility with six roasting lines and 11 automated packaging lines in its 150,000-square-foot plant located outside Seattle. The company will continue to be led by CEO John Gilbert. “We are excited to embark on what we are calling ‘Cascade 3.0,’ where we plan to further expand our capabilities and establish Cascade as the preeminent partner for coffee brands,” Gilbert stated in an announcement from LaSalle. “LaSalle is the ideal partner for this next chapter at Cascade, and we look forward to leveraging their expertise in food and beverage manufacturing to achieve our goals.”
Transition in Investment Partners
LaSalle’s investment follows the exit of Seattle-based Westward Partners, which initially acquired Cascade Coffee in 2020 with an undisclosed investment. According to portfolio reports from Westward Partners, Cascade’s sales more than doubled between the acquisition and 2024.
A Rich History in Coffee Production
Founded in 1995, Cascade Coffee originated from the remnants of Millstone Coffee, which was sold to Proctor & Gamble. Phil Johnson, who established Millstone in 1981, utilized leftover assets from that sale to create Cascade. Although J.M. Smucker discontinued the Millstone brand in 2016, Cascade has since evolved into one of the largest full-service private-label and contract roasting companies in the country, providing a comprehensive range of services from green coffee sourcing to various consumer and commercial packaging solutions. Notably, the company does not own any coffee brands.
Anticipating Future Growth
LaSalle Capital Partner David Murav expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We could not be more excited to work alongside John and the entire Cascade team. They have developed a best-in-class operation, and we are eager to support them during this next stage of growth.”
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