Food Case Study
A CEO Search for Westminster Bakers Co.
A first-time partnership built on shared understanding
A crucial CEO search for Westminster Bakers marked LaSalle Capital's initial collaboration with ForceBrands. Ultimately, Lasalle’s choice of executive search partner was a matter of depth. What set ForceBrands apart was our expertise in consequential leadership searches, specifically our ability to place executives who seamlessly align with both a brand's culture and their private equity partner's operational philosophy.
Dual alignment: brand and backer
The ForceBrand team was eager to take on the challenge of finding a CEO who could thrive in both Westminster’s unique manufacturing culture and LaSalle’s hands-on, lower–middle–market approach. The ideal candidate needed a commercial mindset, operational expertise, and the ability to collaborate effectively with active investors, while also being willing to dedicate significant time to Westminster’s Vermont headquarters.
Challenge
A narrow field of contenders.
It’s rare to find executives who combine sharp commercial instincts with the hands-on expertise needed to lead a self-manufacturing business. Those who do are in high demand, making this search an exciting and competitive challenge.
Solution
Calibrating for commercial and cultural fit.
ForceBrands initiated a nationwide search for executives with proven expertise in scaling vertically integrated, profitable brands within the lower-middle market. Candidates underwent a rigorous assessment, not only of their operational and sales leadership skills but also of their relationship fluency. It was essential to evaluate the candidate’s ability to effectively align with an engaged private equity owner while successfully guiding a regional brand with deep roots.
Cultural empathy across two worlds.
ForceBrands' extensive understanding of the consumer brand landscape gave us a unique edge. Our team skillfully balanced two crucial factors: aligning with the brand's core identity while also considering the investor's disposition. This dual empathy sets ForceBrands apart from other firms and was a key reason we were selected for the search.
The Result
The outcome: Everything the client had hoped for.
One year in, the placed CEO has been everything LaSalle Capital hoped for. He has added significant energy to the retail side of the business while maintaining strength in foodservice. He has helped build a strong team around him. He is collaborative, regularly engaging LaSalle not just at the board level but as an ongoing thought partner. He has centered the organization on growth, encouraging alignment at every level around what needs to change to execute the plan successfully.