Westside Equipment Co.
Company Overview
Who We Are
Based in Madera, California, Westside Equipment designs, manufactures, and distributes tomato harvesting and pistachio harvesting equipment, as well as related aftermarket parts. Founded in 1986, and located in California’s Central Valley, home of 95% of the U.S.’s domestic processed tomato production, Westside is the market leader in tomato harvesters for processed tomato applications, with multiple model offerings branded under the Commander, Johnson, and STAR names.
The Company serves a diverse customer base including the world’s major tomato and pistachio processors and farms located near the Company’s headquarters in California, as well as addressing customers in other parts of the U.S., and across the globe. In addition to its strategically located headquarters in the heart of California’s leading agricultural community, the Company has parts, sales, and support service operations in Crows Landing, Woodland, and Five Points, as well as company owned distribution in Chile. As a company that understands commercial tomato production, Westside is at the forefront of the global tomato economy. The company’s harvesters and parts meet the design fit of international harvesting needs, as they serve customers located across the globe, including in Brazil, Peru, Spain, Israel, Australia, and China. Across California, the greater U.S., and globally, Westside is actively pursuing add-on acquisitions across multiple segments of agricultural harvesting equipment.
Westside Equipment machines are designed by engineers and built to order. With over 1,000 man-hours of welding and assembly per machine, each harvester is engineered for speed, longevity, and capacity. Nationally and globally recognized for commitment to quality and innovation, each harvester is backed by a company built on expertise and integrity.
The Private Equity Group
In 2019, Westside was acquired by Hanover Partners and an institutional partner. The Company’s CEO and co-founder re-invested alongside Hanover and remains the Company’s leader.
Hanover Partners invests in small-to-medium sized companies and has maintained a consistent focus on investing in various sub-sectors within specialty manufacturing. Their portfolio consists of product and equipment-based companies with proprietary qualities to their offerings, a large number of employees involved in engineering and product development, and a strong brand. Hanover Partners teams with exceptional CEOs to build market leading engineered product companies. The expertise generated from the focus of their consistent investment strategy enables them to be thoughtful and engaged stewards of small-cap manufacturing companies.
Visit Hanover Partners' Website Below:
Our Unique Opportunity
This position reports to the CEO/Co-Founder and Board of Directors, comprised of members of Hanover Partners, who recently purchased the company from its founders. While the CEO is staying on, his co-founder and COO is retiring from the business. The new COO will have a chance to put their signature on the culture and future of this organization as it transitions from a founder-led to a professionally managed business. The company has loyal and profitable customer relationships, a dedicated team of roughly 50 employees, and multiple facilities up and down the California Central Valley, with room for expansion. Where can you take it from here?