Carlin O'Brien Acquires Natural/Specialty Broker

CHICAGO — Food sales agency Carlin O’Brien has acquired natural/specialty foods broker C.A. Fortune, Bloomington, Ill., from owners Ken and Dottie Rzeszutko who are retiring after nearly 50 years in the food brokerage business. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ken Rzeszutko began his career in the specialty food business in 1965 with Chicago Dietetic. In 1977, he joined C.A. Fortune and purchased the company in 1983. C.A. Fortune represents more than 150 specialty brands and manufacturers to a variety of retailers.

“Carlin O’Brien is a strong independent company and brings many resources to C.A. Fortune, which will continue as its natural/specialty/bakery division,” Rzeszutko said in a statement.

“This acquisition partners C.A. Fortune as the best-in-class specialty natural broker in the Midwest with Carlin O’Brien’s regional reach, multi-channel expertise and analytic prowess. It’s a win-win,” Jeff Mahler, president of Carlin O’Brien, added. “All of C.A. Fortune’s management and personnel will be kept in place.”

Carlin O’Brien is a member of BeaconUnited, a venture of eight U.S. food brokers.