• Weber, Carvel, Supergoop!, Igloo, and Bond Vet are able to provide innovative products and helpful tips with support from private equity.

• Private equity investment is essential to providing small business owners with opportunities to innovate, scale, and support jobs, with U.S. private equity directly employing 12 million workers in 2022.

As you prepare to ring in Independence Day, look no further than private equity-backed companies for innovative products and safety tips that will complete your holiday celebrations – all while supporting American jobs and small businesses.

 Weber: the world’s leading barbeque brand

Weber and its iconic charcoal kettle grills have been at the center of American Fourth of July barbecues for more than 70 years.

When Weber was struggling to recover post-pandemic, the backing of private equity firm BDT Partners in 2021 provided the stability needed for the beloved grill-maker to continue creating top-of-the-line grill products.

With the help of this private equity investment, Weber has been able to continue innovating new products – from their new LUMIN electric grill to their griddle product suite.

Carvel: pioneering soft-serve ice cream for nearly a century

Creamy, cold, sweet, and delicious, Carvel ice cream is a dessert centerpiece for any occasion, but particularly for warm summer days this Fourth of July. 

Credited with inventing soft ice cream and becoming America’s first retail ice cream company, the Carvel brand has been defined by innovative ice cream creations from the start. With lofty business goals and limitless creativity, Carvel’s partnership with private equity firm Roark Capital in 2001 provided necessary resources to expand the beloved franchise’s reach to ice cream lovers across the United States. 

Supported by strategic investments and private equity’s guidance, Americans across the country continue to see Carvel as their go-to ice cream shop for its unique soft-serve, ice cream cakes, and everything in between.

Supergoop!: a sunscreen company with a transformative mission

Outdoor activities are at the heart of most Fourth of July celebrations, and protecting against the sun’s harsh UV rays is essential. To provide the most innovative SPF products – with clean and creative formulas for everyday wear – Texas-based sunscreen company Supergoop!’s partnership with private equity has proven instrumental to continued product innovation.

Backed by private equity firm Blackstone, Supergoop! has been able to build on its mission to create effective – but wearable – sunscreen for everyone, regardless of age or skin type. Beyond its corporate strategy, this partnership also supports Supergoop!’s philanthropic efforts, including backing a collaboration with the I Promise School that will provide school materials in addition to Supergoop! products.

Igloo: innovative cooling solutions since 1947

For any outdoor activity in the hot summer sun, having chilled refreshments is a necessity – and Igloo coolers have been making that possible for over 75 years. From creating the first plastic cooler in the 1960’s to introducing the first hardside coolers made from recycled plastics, Igloo – with the help of private equity – has long been a leader in innovative chilling.

Through its nearly decade-long partnership with private equity firm ACON Investments, Igloo has been able to invest in product improvement, revamp marketing efforts, and generate broader company growth. Their partnership has also benefitted Igloo’s employees, helping the company avoid lay-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic and increase employees’ sick leave. As Igloo’s President and CEO told American Investment Council President and CEO Drew Maloney, Igloo’s partnership with private equity has been critical to helping invest in Igloo’s vision for the future.

 Bond Vet: keeping pets safe and healthy every day

While fireworks are the showstopper at most Fourth of July celebrations, they can leave pets scared and panicked. Through posts on their website that give tips on how to calm your pet during fireworks, health-tech startup Bond Vet, backed by private equity, has a demonstrated commitment to providing their patients, and their patients’ owners, with the care and tools needed to keep pets safe, happy, and healthy.  

With private equity investments from firms like Talisman Capital and Warburg Pincus, Bond Vet has been able to expand its innovative services to new territories and continue to grow their practice – providing the resources to improve equipment, training, and access to the latest veterinary technology.

Private equity investment: supporting small businesses and American jobs

For these American-made brands and countless others – including many small businesses – U.S. private equity is an engine of growth and innovation that helps support American jobs. In 2022, U.S. private equity directly employed 12 million workers – where many are part of small businesses of 500 employees or less, which comprised the overwhelming majority (85%!) of private equity-backed businesses in 2022.

The bottom line

With investment from private equity, innovative companies in sectors across the economy equip consumers with the resources necessary for safe, fun, and exciting celebrations on Fourth of July and beyond – all while supporting American workers.