Foley & Lardner LLP announced today it represented McKinney-based Nature Nate's Honey Co. (Nature Nate's), the number one U.S. branded honey company, in its sale and merger with Sweet Harvest Foods (Sweet Harvest), a leading natural sweeteners platform and one of the largest packers in North America. Through this transaction, Nature Nate's will merge with Sweet Harvest under the Blue Road Capital portfolio, an independent private equity firm making control investments in agricultural production and supply chain companies.

Over the past 24 years, Nature Nate's has grown to become the largest honey brand in the U.S. and is the leading provider of 100% pure, raw and unfiltered honey in the retail segment. The merger will enable Nature Nate's to grow the honey and natural sweetener category at an accelerated rate, introduce new products and expand to other countries outside of the U.S. Nature Nate's founder Nathan Sheets will continue as CEO and will become the largest minority shareholder. Nature Nate's will remain headquartered in McKinney, Texas, post-merger. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Foley team serving as counsel for Nature Nate's in the transaction with Sweet Harvest was led by Partner Chris Converse and included Partners Michael Donohue, Michael Dubner, Clifton Dugas, Benjamin Dryden, Of Counsel Nick Peters and Cynthia Harkness, and Associates Timothy Grasser and Samuel Kuzniewski.