PASCOAG, R.I. – Artisan meat producer Daniele Inc. announced last week that it was acquired by Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p) a Chicago-based private equity firm who works in the food and consumer packaged goods industries.

“I have known the Dukcevich family and Daniele for many years, and we are incredibly excited to add Daniele to our e2p portfolio,” said Mark Burgett, managing partner of e2p. “Daniele has developed industry-leading brands and product offerings as a result of its dedication to authenticity, quality and strong product innovation.” 

The Dukcevich family, who founded the American division of the company in Rhode Island in 1976, will remain involved in the business that employs 600 workers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Our family has dedicated over 70 years to growing Daniele,” Daniele’s CEO Vlado Dukcevich said in a press release. “We selected e2p as our partner for the company’s next stage because of their blend of hands-on operational experience and demonstrated ability to create value in food companies for all stakeholders.”

In 2018, MEAT+POULTRY profiled the Daniele business and its application of automation and robotics at its new prosciutto processing and salame facility.

Davide Dukecevich, vice president of sales for Daniele, said in the article that Daniele spent $100 million in five years on the new operation. The plant covered nearly 900,000 sq. ft., with 90 percent of the square footage utilized for time- and space-intensive aging and drying process required in the production of traditional prosciutto and salame.