Steve Young is a proven consumer products executive with a unique blend of both growth equity investment expertise and global C-Level operating experience for leading consumer products companies. Steve has over a decade of growth equity investment leadership, including both fund management and buy-side M&A and a tracked record of realized investments including IPO, sponsor-backed and strategic sales. As Managing Partner, Steve currently leads the investment portfolio at Manna Tree, and is a member of both its Executive and Investment Committees. Manna Tree invests across the consumer health and wellness ecosystem and has invested in industry-leading companies like Vital Farms, Health- Ade, Good Culture, Gotham Greens, True Food Kitchen and TruFood Manufacturing.
Prior to Manna Tree, Steve served as EVP, Managing Director for Sunrise Strategic Partners, a $200+ million venture fund with successful exits on consumer brands like Kodiak Cakes, Vital Farms and Teton Waters Ranch. Prior to his move into fund management, Steve served as a buy-side leader of General Mills’ broader $1 billion portfolio of emerging brands, including leading its transformational Annie’s acquisition and integration. This brand has more than tripled in topline sales since General Mills acquired it in 2014.
Steve also has 20+ years of proven experience as an operator, including both corporate officer level leadership at General Mills and CEO experience at Bellisio/CP Foods North America. During his career at General Mills, Steve led businesses across all segments including cereal, snacks, yogurt and emerging brands. In addition, Steve spent five years working abroad with Cereal Partners Worldwide, General Mills’ joint venture with Nestle, in Australia and Switzerland, where he led Global Marketing. Steve also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bellisio Foods/CP Foods North America, the third largest manufacturer of frozen meals in North America. The company has a portfolio of businesses in the branded, co-manufacturing and foodservice spaces – with strong relationships across all retail channels.
Steve lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife, Denise, and their kids ranging in ages from 13 to 23. He is an avid cyclist, runner and loves the outdoors – from the lakes of Northern Minnesota to the mountains and ski slopes in his original home state of Montana. Steve holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Montana and an MBA from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA.
