Stride Consumer Partners Welcomes Seasoned Industry Veteran Paul Kenny to Accelerate Growth for Next-Gen Food and Beverage Brands

Boston, June 24, 2024 – Stride Consumer Partners, a growth equity firm specializing in partnering with talented founders to build the next generation of great consumer brands, is thrilled to announce the addition of Paul Kenny to their team. Kenny, a seasoned industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, joins Stride as an Operating Partner in the Food & Beverage sector, where he will focus on sourcing, diligence, and post-investment involvement to help their partner management teams achieve their vision and growth ambitions with a focus on commercialization.

Elevating the Next Generation of Food and Beverage Brands

Extensive Experience Driving Sustained Growth for Iconic Brands

Over the course of his illustrious career, Paul Kenny has held leadership roles at some of the world's most renowned consumer products companies, including Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, Nabisco Foods, Playtex Products, Combe Inc., and KIND Snacks. His diverse experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of the intricacies of building and scaling successful consumer brands across both domestic and international markets.Most recently, Kenny served as the Chief Commercial Officer at Yasso, where he played a pivotal role in driving the brand's exceptional commercial growth and shareholder value. His strategic thought leadership, strong customer relationships, and operational excellence have been instrumental in elevating the brands he has been associated with.

Partnering with Stride to Empower the Next Generation of Food and Beverage Innovators

Kenny's decision to join Stride Consumer Partners is a testament to his belief in the firm's mission and its ability to support and elevate the next generation of Food and Beverage brands. He has had the privilege of collaborating with the Stride team over the years, both as an operating executive and as an advisor to the extraordinary brands, founders, and management teams they partner with."I look forward to continuing to work beside the Stride team, pursuing our shared passion of supporting and elevating the next generation of Food and Beverage brands," commented Kenny. "The Stride team's deep industry expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to empowering founders make them the ideal partner to help these brands reach their full potential."

Stride's Confidence in Kenny's Proven Track Record

The Stride team has long admired Kenny's exceptional track record of driving commercial growth and building lasting brands. Juan Marcos Hill, a Partner at Stride, expressed the firm's enthusiasm about welcoming Kenny to the team."We are thrilled to welcome Paul to Stride. We have collaborated with Paul for several years on brands like Yasso, Chomps, and Serenity Kids, and have witnessed firsthand his ability to drive thoughtful, sustained growth while building lasting brands with strong commercialization strategies and execution across a myriad of channels," said Hill. "Paul will be an invaluable resource to the management teams and sales teams that we partner with at Stride, given his deep experience building growth brands in the Food and Beverage sector."

Unlocking the Potential of the Next Generation of Food and Beverage Brands

As an Operating Partner at Stride, Kenny will leverage his extensive industry expertise and proven track record to help the firm's partner management teams achieve their vision and growth ambitions. His focus on commercialization and his ability to drive exceptional results will be instrumental in unlocking the full potential of the next generation of innovative Food and Beverage brands."I have had the pleasure of collaborating with members of the Stride team over several years and have enjoyed being both on the operating side and as an advisor to the extraordinary brands, founders, and management teams with whom they partner," said Kenny. "I look forward to continuing to work beside them pursuing our shared passion of supporting and elevating the next generation of Food and Beverage brands."With Paul Kenny's addition to the Stride team, the firm is poised to further strengthen its position as a leading growth equity partner for the most promising consumer brands in the Food and Beverage sector. As the industry continues to evolve, Stride and its new Operating Partner are well-equipped to help the next generation of innovators navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.