Logos courtesy of respective companies
Emerald Coast Growers announced it has entered into a partnership with Green Street Growth, a U.S.-based investment firm.
Family-owned and -led Emerald Coast Growers will keep its current management structure — with Paul & Maureen Babikow, Cheri Markowitz and Al Mueller at the helm — as the family is retaining partial ownership.
“We are excited to partner with Green Street, as this will provide us with additional resources to expand our production capacity and operating infrastructure, invest in our people and expand the support we provide to our customers,” said Paul Babikow, president of ECG.
“We’re honored to remain in leadership roles and continue our commitment to quality, service and long-term industry relationships that have defined the company for more than three decades,” added Cheri Markowitz, VP of sales for ECG.
Emerald Coast Growers, which has been in business for 35 years, is a supplier of ornamental grass liners to North American growers and retailers. It has over 575,000 square feet of environmentally controlled greenhouses, more than 75 acres of total farmland, and locations in both the northeast and southeast.
"We are thrilled to partner with Emerald Coast Growers," said Ryan Coon, co-founder and managing partner at Green Street Growth. "Paul, Maureen, Cheri and Al, along with their team, have built a remarkable company, with a reputation for quality, reliability and treating people the right way."
“Our role is to support the team,” added James Deng, co-founder and managing partner at Green Street. “We want to preserve what makes Emerald Coast Growers special and provide resources that can help the company continue to grow. Above all, we are committed to doing what is right for the employees, customers and the broader horticulture industry."
The company will retain its current management structure and employees. Customer and supplier relationships and processes will remain unchanged. Together, the existing leadership and the new partners are formulating plans to expand the business and grow its production capacity, according to a news release.
“As we considered the future of the business, it was important to find a partner who respects what has made Emerald Coast Growers successful and shares our values and long-term perspective. We believe we found that in Green Street Growth,” Paul Babikow said.