PARTNERS

Carole Buyers

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Carole began her career in natural foods over twenty years ago, as an analyst in the then nascent natural foods industry. As one of the first analysts to cover Whole Foods, she has had a front row seat as the story of this now powerful sector has emerged. Carole has worked as a consumer equity analyst on the sell-side with RBC Capital Markets and on the buy-side with The Boston Company. In 2008, Carole left financial services, taking a leadership role in corporate finance and investor relations with Gaiam, Inc. In 2010, Carole was asked to come to Boulder Brands as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Investor Relations. While there, Carole identified and led the acquisition of 4 companies over her first 3 years which came to represent almost 75% of Boulder Brands sales. Concurrent to this role, Carole served as Managing Director of Boulder Brands Investment Group from 2013 to 2015. Carole’s research and financial background in natural foods, combined with her experience in acquisitions within the industry make her an integral part of the BIGR team. Carole sits or has sat on the Boards of Temple Turmeric, EPIC and Bonafide Provisions.

Bill Weiland

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

26 years ago, Bill founded Presence Marketing, which has become the largest and most successful independent natural foods broker in the US. Over the course of the last 15 years, Bill has rolled up the strongest regional brokers in the country and today there is no competitor that comes close to the performance of his team. Due to his well-established reputation, Bill is the first call many natural foods companies make when looking for broker representation. As such, Bill’s relationships and industry expertise provide the fund a robust stream of deal flow, as well as innovation insights and industry help to our portfolio companies.

Duane Primozich

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Duane began his career in natural foods over 20 years ago. In that time, he has served in management positions for several prominent natural foods companies, including Frontier Natural Products Co-op and WhiteWave. In 2004 Duane co-founded Pixie Mate, a specialty tea business, and from 2007 to 2015 he held several senior management positions for Boulder Brands, ultimately serving as the Executive Vice President of the Balance segment for Boulder Brands, responsible for 3 of the 6 businesses in the portfolio. Concurrent to this, Duane was the Managing Director of the Boulder Brands Investment Group from 2013 to 2015. Duane’s general business management and entrepreneurial experience make him perfectly suited to assist portfolio companies in their business operations, strategic planning and marketing and sales initiatives. Duane currently sits or has sat on the Board of Directors of Suja Juice, EPIC, Temple Turmeric, Primizie, Live Soda, Bonafide Provisions, REBBL, Bobo’s Oat Bars, High Brew Coffee, Soozy’s Grain-Free, Hope Foods and Thorne Nature Experience, a Boulder-based environmental education non-profit.