Company Description
Kalustyan Corporation (“Kalustyan”), headquartered in Union, New Jersey, is a leading specialty ingredients supplier serving industrial spice blenders, food processors, flavor and fragrance manufacturers, and private-label bottlers. The Company operates three facilities across New Jersey and Indiana, employs approximately 130 people, and offers more than 3,000 SKUs of custom-ground herbs and spices. Kalustyan’s sourcing, processing, and quality assurance capabilities deliver fully traceable, specification-driven ingredients supported by Certificates of Analysis and robust food safety programs aligned with FSMA and GFSI standards.
Services Provided
MelCap served as Kalustyan’s exclusive investment banker and financial advisor in executing a strategic partnership.
The Result
In an effort to provide liquidity to the Karakash Family while positioning the Company for its next phase of growth, MelCap successfully identified the ideal partner for Kalustyan. As a result, Kalustyan entered into a strategic partnership with Awani Capital Management (“Awani”), a Washington, D.C.-area private equity firm focused on control investments in leading North American middle-market companies providing essential business and industrial services. Awani partners with management teams to accelerate growth, enhance operations, and build enduring businesses through a disciplined, collaborative approach grounded in operational excellence and long-term value creation.
Choosing the right investment banker is just as important as finding the right buyer or partner, and MelCap proved to be an excellent choice for us. They took the time to understand our business and identified the right partner for us. From the initial outreach through the final stages of the transaction, they stayed actively involved, kept both sides focused, and navigated the process with professionalism, integrity, and persistence. Their hands-on approach, sound judgment, and commitment to achieving the best outcome gave us confidence every step of the way. I highly recommend MelCap to any business owner considering to sell or find the right partner for the business that they worked hard to build.
