Real Food Blends was founded in 2012 by Julie and Tony Bombacino, who were inspired by their young tube-fed son, AJ, and a belief that we all deserve real food. Armed with determination and their love for AJ, the Bombacinos spent years in research and development to create Real Food Blends, and provide access to 100% real food meals and nutritional variety to people with feeding tubes and their families, at home or on-the-go. Nutricia and Real Food Blends share a deep commitment to bring life-changing, and lifesaving, nutrition solutions to people in need, including children and adults with feeding tubes, and their families.
“The Real Food Blends mission is personal for us and for the individuals and families who rely on our products. We want to advance the mission and impact of the company, to help even more people like AJ,” said Julie and Tony Bombacino, Founders of Real Food Blends. “After millions of meals sold, the Real Food Blends portfolio still utilizes simple, real ingredients and 100% real food. We found in Nutricia a trusted, like-minded, and experienced company that will continue to innovate, support and introduce blended meals to nourish people in need.”
Real Food Blends is the only company that focuses solely on real-food products in the more than $1 billion U.S. tube-feeding market. Nutricia has been committed to transforming lives through the power of nutrition for more than 120 years. With brands such as Neocate, Phenylade, Pro-Stat and KetoCal, Nutricia positively impacts the health and lives of thousands of infants, children, and adults (and their families) in the U.S. and Canada every year. With this acquisition, Nutricia will build upon what the Bombacinos have achieved in 8 short years and help to grow what makes the Real Food Blends portfolio unique—its accessibility, versatility and use of 100% real food ingredients.
“We are excited to continue to grow the Real Food Blends mission and portfolio, to bring even more unique and nutritious options to children and adults with feeding tubes,” said Robert Schnurr, CEO of Nutricia North America. “Nutricia understands the critical role that food can play in improving the lives of people with special medical conditions. We are committed to preserving and building on what has made Real Food Blends so valued in the lives of the people who rely on their products, and their families.”
Both Julie and Tony Bombacino will remain with the company in their current roles of CEO and President respectively.
DDA & Company served as exclusive financial advisor to Danone and Nutricia on this transaction.