New York, NY, July 18, 2025 — BDA Partners is pleased to announce that its client, DAOL Private Equity, entered into an agreement to sell its 100% stake in MZ Food Solution to LF Food, the food subsidiary of Korean conglomerate LF Corp. BDA was the exclusive financial advisor to DAOL.
MZ Food Solution, headquartered in Pocheon-si, is a leading Korean sauce ODM (original design manufacturer) with a portfolio of over 2,500 SKUs across Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Western cuisines. The company primarily serves B2B clients, including franchise restaurant chains, food distributors, and food manufacturers.
LF Food, a subsidiary of LF Corp, is expanding its footprint in the food sector through strategic acquisitions. The acquisition of MZ Food Solution enhances LF Food’s in-house R&D and manufacturing capabilities, strengthening its competitiveness across its HMR (Home Meal Replacement) and RMR (Restaurant Meal Replacement) offerings. Post-acquisition, LF Food aims to unlock operational synergies with its existing portfolio of food subsidiaries.
Howard Lee, Partner and Head of Seoul, BDA Partners, said: “We’re pleased to have advised our client on the successful divestment of MZ Food Solution. The Korean dining industry, driven by a strong franchise model, continues to grow steadily, underpinned by structural and demographic tailwinds that sustain demand for sauces. Despite increased competition in the market, this deal underscores BDA’s ability to deliver optimal outcomes for our clients.”
Karen Cheung, Partner and Head of Consumer & Retail, BDA Partners, added, “We’re delighted to have advised DAOL Private Equity on this successful exit. MZ Food represents a best-in-class platform in the fast-growing Korean sauce manufacturing space. As strategic players increasingly seek to internalize production and innovation capabilities, we expect continued interest in scalable, B2B-oriented food assets. This deal is a strong example of how BDA leverages deep consumer sector expertise and local insight to execute strong outcomes for clients.”
Deal team
· Howard Lee, Partner, Head of Seoul, Seoul
· Karen Cheung, Partner, Head of Consumer & Retail, Hong Kong
· Teddy Kim, Associate, Seoul
· Brian Yoon, Analyst, Seoul