Kingswood Capital Management Invests in Soulshine Farms Poultry Processor

Kingswood Capital Management, has completed a strategic investment in Soulshine Farms, LLC & Pearl River Foods on April 14, 2026, a prominent poultry further-processing company specializing in portioning, deboning, marination, packaging, and custom sizing. The transaction marks a significant step in expanding Soulshine Farms’ operational capabilities and market reach.

Founded in 2018, Soulshine Farms operates three processing plants located in Gainesville, Georgia, and Carthage, Mississippi, encompassing 185,000 square feet of production space. The company processes over 6 million pounds of protein weekly, supplying value-added poultry products to national foodservice brands, retail outlets, and other protein distribution channels.

All three founders—Michael Farmer, Eric Reeves, and Drew Hill—remain shareholders and continue in executive leadership roles. At closing, Kingswood Operating Partner John Niemann, a seasoned protein industry veteran, assumes the role of Executive Chairman, bringing extensive operational expertise to the company’s leadership team.

Michael Farmer, Eric Reeves, and Drew Hill stated, “In Kingswood, we found an operationally focused partner willing to work alongside us to invest in the business, while preserving the qualities that we believe make Soulshine Farms unique and give us a competitive advantage. With Kingswood’s investment, we’re looking forward to our next chapter of growth while continuing to deliver the quality and reliability that our customers have come to expect.” They emphasized the importance of their company culture and employee dedication as key drivers of their success.

Andrew Kovach, Partner at Kingswood, commented, “Michael, Eric, and Drew have built an impressive company dedicated to producing high-quality products with top-tier customer service. We have a shared vision for the future and look forward to partnering with the entire Soulshine Farms team, bringing in resources and operational expertise to expand capacity and capabilities to support continued growth with their customers.”

Alex Wolf, Founder and Managing Partner of Kingswood, added, “We saw an opportunity in Soulshine Farms that was right out of our playbook—a founder-led company with strong fundamentals, a solid market position, and a loyal customer base—seeking its first institutional capital. By working with the founders and John Niemann, we see significant growth potential ahead for the company and an ability to capitalize on favorable protein market tailwinds.”

This investment represents Kingswood’s seventh in the food and beverage sector and its second protein-focused asset, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to founder-led companies and operational growth in the agribusiness space. Kingswood was recently named to Inc. Magazine’s 2025 List of Founder-Friendly Investors, highlighting its reputation for collaborative partnerships.

Barclays served as exclusive buy-side advisor to Kingswood, while Kirkland & Ellis provided legal counsel. JGH Consulting advised Soulshine Farms throughout the transaction process.

Looking ahead, Kingswood plans to leverage its capital and operational expertise to accelerate Soulshine Farms’ capacity expansion, enhance product innovation, and optimize supply chain efficiencies. The partnership aims to strengthen Soulshine Farms’ position as a leading poultry further-processor in the Southeastern United States, while maintaining the company’s high standards for food safety, quality, and customer service.

Integration challenges include preserving the founder-led culture, aligning operations across multiple facilities, and managing growth without compromising product quality. However, the combined leadership and resources position Soulshine Farms to respond effectively to competitive pressures and evolving market demands.

Overall, this strategic investment underscores Kingswood’s focus on partnering with founder-led businesses at pivotal growth stages, providing both capital and operational support to unlock value and drive long-term success.