Fitlife Foods, the leading Southeastern independent retailer of healthy, fresh-prepared meals, secured an investment on Tuesday, July 22 with private equity firm, KarpReilly LLC.
Fitlife Foods currently operates seven locations and seven kiosk spaces throughout the Tampa Bay region; and recently announced their expansion of their Culinary Center operations in Plant City, Florida. The partnership with KarpReilly will drive further growth of the Fitlife Foods performance-brand to other markets throughout the state and in the Southeast region.
“As Fitlife Foods continues to grow, it is important to bring in additional talent and capital to further our mission of helping more customers find their daily allowance of awesomeness. I am committed to partnering with the right organizations who have a deep set of experience and who can help us provide greater opportunities for our team, while helping more customers,” says David Osterweil, founder and chief executive of Fitlife Foods. “This investment is not only great for Fitlife Foods, but is special for the Tampa Bay area. Partnering with firms like KarpReilly is a testament to the innovation that our region is being known for in the consumer retail and hospitality segment.”
In 2011, Fitlife Foods opened its first location in Tampa, Florida, and three years later they secured an equity investment from FLF Investment Partners. FLF Investment Partners includes: Stuart and Tyler Lasher of Quantum Capital Partners, Keenan and Hannibal Baldwin of Baldwin Beach Capital, Gries Investment Funds, and Bahram Akradi, founder and CEO of Life Time Fitness. The investment and support from FLF Investment Partners led to phenomenal brand growth for Fitlife, which ultimately helped to gain the attention of KarpReilly.
Fitlife Foods has been recognized for helping people save time and gain energy for their active, performance-based schedules. Fitlife Foods eliminates the guesswork of figuring out the nutritional content and what one should eat by providing healthy, high-quality chef-prepared meals for on-the-go, fitness-minded consumers. There are more than 60-plus breakfast, lunch/dinner meals, and snack options available in Fitlife’s refrigerated coolers. Responding to the ever-changing needs of its clientele, the Fitlife team offers selections for gluten-free, low-carb, and paleo diets while helping thousands of customers lose weight with small, medium, and large meal options and one-on-one wellness coaching and meal planning in Fitlife’s Project U program.
“Looking, feeling and performing like a champ, starts with eating like one. Our expert chefs start with the freshest ingredients and craft them into super delicious, perfectly portioned meals with one goal in mind: to power you to be your personal best,” Osterweil says.
The partnership with KarpReilly will allow more people to experience the Fitlife Foods lifestyle. Successfully aligning with premier growth companies, KarpReilly has made equity investments with a variety of well-known and promising brands, including: Burger Lounge, Café Rio, Café Zupas, Cooper’s Hawk, Eureka!, The Habit Burger, Kevita, Spindrift, Taylor Gourmet, and more.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Fitlife Foods, a truly innovative growth retailer and food brand," says Billy Logan, a partner at KarpReilly. "Offering prepared meals that are fresh, convenient, all natural, and appropriately portioned, Fitlife is well positioned at the forefront of how health-conscious consumers are planning their weekly menus. We look forward to working with David and his team on the exciting growth of this concept."
