Current Investments

ScentAir Technologies is a leader in the developing area of scent marketing for retailers and brand marketers. Alerion Partners closed an investment in the company in October 2004. As part of that investment, Alerion helped the company recruit a new CEO and refocus the strategic direction of the company.

Founded in January 1999, the company manufactures and markets a wide variety of high quality, chef prepared, frozen, meals under the Home Bistro brand. It markets these meals via catalog and the internet. The meals are prepared and packaged to be cooked using the Sous Vide method which enables them to go from the freezer to the table in approximately 10 minutes. Alerion's investment is to fund plant expansion including manufacturing and fulfillment, marketing growth and for general working capital purchases.

Convergence is an end to end solutions provider of product re-set management and merchandising services in retail stores for retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers including display management and planning, warehousing, product fulfillment, installation, and repair and support. Alerion's investment provides Convergence with capital to continue to grow both organically and through acquisitions.

Perimeter Marketing Co. produces coupons that are printed and affixed to price labels at deli, meat, seafood, bakery, floral and specialty counters at grocers and other retail outlets. The company sells the space on the labels for coupons or promotional messages to consumer package goods manufacturers (CPG) and other advertisers. To restart this venture, Alerion recruited a board of directors, hired a new CEO and worked with him to help reset the strategic direction of the company.

JTL Enterprises designs, manufactures and sells a line of patented “dry” hydrotherapy systems. These “bed” systems provide a powerful, warm full body massage that combines the healing benefits of water, heat and massage while allowing the user to remain clothed and comfortably dry throughout their treatment. The products are sold into medical markets including chiropractors, physical therapists, osteopathic and wellness practitioners as well as commercial leisure markets including tanning salons, spas, massage therapists and health clubs.

Grand Brands Inc. produces and markets all natural, granular “crystallized” citrus products including True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange. The products provide the fresh squeezed taste of lemon, lime or orange - anywhere, anytime - in a convenient portable packet similar to a sugar or “Equal” packet. This authentic flavor is achieved using a patent pending process that “encapsules” cold pressed fruit oils. The product is available nationwide in most supermarkets and has a loyal customer base that uses the products to flavor tap and bottled water, as well as both hot and iced tea.

Previous Investments

Productivity Solutions, Inc. was the innovator and leader in automated self-checkout solutions for retailers. Prior to Alerion Partners, the Partners led the re-capitalization and re-start of the company in 2000. The company added top tier retail customers, grew revenue over 6 times in less than four years, and was sold to IBM in 2003.

Lamaze Publishing was a for-profit company that licensed the “Lamaze” name to create a series of baby and parenting media vehicles. After an investment by one of Alerion’s Partners, the company launched multiple magazines and a sampling and coupon business. The company was merged with the Newborn Channel and sold to iVillage in 1999.

Newborn Channel provided parenting information to new mothers. The company was initially financed with $17 million in venture capital. After a recapitalization investment by one of Alerion’s partners, the company was repositioned from an in-home cable channel to a satellite fed cable network aired directly to new mothers exclusively in hospital rooms. The company was merged with Lamaze Publishing and sold to iVillage in 1999.

Etoys was a pioneer Internet retailer, creating the first online retail toy store. One of Alerion’s partners was an initial investor in Etoys.

Bruce Failing was the founder and CEO of ActMedia. The company was the first in-store advertising and promotions company in the US and provided full color ads mounted on grocery store shopping carts. The company went public and was later sold to Heritage Media for $180 million. The company was later sold to NewsAmerica Marketing.
 

Tone Brothers was a 100 year old spice company with a strong brand name that was losing significant market share. After an investment by one of Alerion’s partners, the company was repositioned to distribute a wide range of private label products in the growing warehouse club and food service markets while leaving the traditional grocery markets to larger competitors. The company increased its value sevenfold in three years and was sold to Rykoff-Sexton.