February 16, 2022 New York, NY — NexPhase Capital, LP (“NexPhase” or the “Firm”), a thematic and operationally focused private equity firm, today announced its partnership with Metz Culinary Management (“Metz” or the “Company”), a family-driven, diversified food services business providing outsourced food service management (“FSM”) and environmental services (“EVS”) management across the East Coast. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“NexPhase is the ideal partner for Metz and this partnership comes at an exciting time for our Company,” said Jeff Metz, President & CEO of Metz Culinary Management. “NexPhase shares our vision and values to provide a culture of hospitality, emphasizing quality and sustainability in every one of our communities.”
Based in Dallas, Pennsylvania, Metz was established in 1994 by John Metz, Sr., a serial FSM entrepreneur, as a custom on-site management company with a “guest-first” philosophy, and has been led by Jeff Metz, President & Chief Executive Officer since 2008. Metz has grown to manage several hundred partner facilities including hospitals & other healthcare facilities, schools and universities, and other retail locations, and today operates three culinary centers for frozen and pre-packaged meal production emphasizing meal delivery to seniors at home.
The Company has stayed true to its roots, establishing a reputation for collaborating with partners to deliver restaurant-inspired hospitality to each and every guest, and according to Metz Founder and Chairman of the Board John Metz, Sr., “It was critical to the Metz family that we find a partner who shared our commitment to our guests, partners, and most importantly our team members. We are delighted to have found that with NexPhase.”
“We have been extremely impressed by the leadership and vision demonstrated by the Metz family and management team, and by the family-driven culture they have instilled throughout the Company,” said NexPhase Capital Operating Partner Barbara Hill. “We believe Metz is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing need for health-conscious and partner-focused on-site food service management, as well as the immense amount of growth potential for meal delivery to seniors at home. We are excited to partner with Metz and believe we can add meaningful value as the Metz family continues to build this tremendous company.”
JMP Securities, a Citizens Company, served as an exclusive financial advisor to Metz Culinary Management, and Blank Rome LLP served as legal counsel. Lazard served as financial advisor to NexPhase Capital, and McDermott Will & Emery LLP served as legal counsel.
About Metz
Metz Culinary Management is a family-driven, diversified food service management company with 25+ years of culinary and hospitality experience. The Company provides outsourced FSM and EVS management services on behalf of hospitals, senior care facilities, schools (colleges + K-12), and other retail and business & industry (“B&I”) locations across the East Coast. In addition, Metz provides frozen and pre-packaged meals to seniors at home. The Company proudly boasts a reputation for chef-inspired meals, made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients, for a leading consumer experience provided by its restaurant-inspired staff. In 2021, Food Management Magazine named Metz one of the Top 15 Contract Management Companies in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.metzculinary.com.
About NexPhase Capital
NexPhase Capital is a thematic and operationally focused private equity firm that invests in lower middle market growth-oriented companies within three distinct sectors: consumer, healthcare and software. The firm partners with founders whose companies have reached a growth inflection point and are seeking a value-added partner to help navigate the company’s “next phase.” NexPhase Capital targets control equity investments between $25 million and $150 million. The NexPhase healthcare team focuses primarily on investing in service-oriented companies. Recent healthcare investments include Calcium, a marketing services provider to the biopharma space, and Synergy Homecare, one of the largest franchisors of in-home senior care services. Visit www.nexphase.com to learn more.