Omaha, NE – High Plains Bison (“High Plains” or the “Company”, now known as HPB Legacy, LLC) has sold substantially all of its assets to Rangeland Bison. Prior to the transaction, High Plains Bison was a leading provider of branded-bison products for grocery retail, the USDA, foodservice providers, and restaurants. Additionally, its affiliated companies owned multiple bison herds and ranch operations that were included in the transaction. Through the transaction, Rangeland will now operate in the U.S. as High Plains Bison USA Inc.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Hennepin Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor and Baird Holm acted as legal counsel to High Plains.
Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and founded in 2003, High Plains gradually grew to one of the largest bison protein brands in the United States. Its broad and versatile offering of premium quality, and certified bison products appeal to a wide variety of consumers and align with consumer preferences favoring authentic, lean, and healthier protein alternatives. High Plains serves a diverse customer base of national, blue-chip retailers, foodservice distributors, and restaurants.
“I am proud to have built High Plains Bison over the last 20+ years into one of the largest bison brands in the United States,” said High Plains Founder and CEO Joe Ricketts. “Rangeland is a great fit and a perfect home for the next chapter of High Plains Bison. Together, the brands can continue to provide premium bison products to meet evolving consumer preferences for lean, authentic protein.”
Ricketts also stated, “The Hennepin Partners team was a key asset throughout the process, providing steady, thoughtful guidance that played a crucial role in ensuring the successful completion of a complex transaction. We are excited that High Plains has joined Rangeland, a company with a rich history in the bison industry.”
Dean Andres, CEO of Rangeland Bison, said, “High Plains brings complementary product lines, additional bison supply, and tenured, national customer relationships in the grocery retail segment. High Plains presents a great opportunity for us to continue our geographic expansion plan across North American markets, strengthens our superior offering of high-end protein products, and expands our customer relationships within both retail and foodservice. We are excited for the High Plains brand to join the Rangeland family.”
Jim Matheson, Executive Director at the National Bison Association, added, “The National Bison Association is pleased to see the legacy of the High Plains Bison brand continue under new ownership and appreciates this member’s commitment to being responsible bison stewards helping to meet the growing consumer demand for quality bison products.”