KDSA is an investment partnership exclusively focused on founder-and family-owned businesses in the food & beverage industry
David Knopf
Co-Managing Partner
Andrew Souza
Co-Managing Partner
Justin Kang
Senior Associate
Prior to KDSA, David was the CEO of LIVEKINDLY Collective, a private food company. David helped raise over $500 million in capital (led by TPG Capital), completed 6 acquisitions and successfully led a transformational turnaround of the business.
Before that, David spent 7 years at 3G Capital where he was a Partner. He worked on several large M&A transactions including the formation of Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR) and the merger of Kraft Foods and Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC), and he also helped raise capital for the firm. David went in-house at KraftHeinz following the transaction, where he served as the Global CFO from 2017-2019 and, prior to that, the Head of the billion-dollar Planters Snack Nuts business.
David began his career working at Goldman Sachs in the Consumer/Retail Investment Banking Group. David is a graduate of Princeton University (Summa Cum Laude).
Prior to KDSA, Andrew spent 7 years at LFG (Lowy Family Group), where he was a Senior Portfolio Manager, responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing a concentrated investment portfolio backed by permanent capital from the Lowy Family, the founders of Westfield Malls which was sold to Unibail-Rodamco (URW.PA) for ~$23 billion.
Prior to LFG, Andrew spent 6 years at Omega Advisors, Leon Cooperman’s multi-billion-dollar investment fund, where he originated and executed investments across the capital structure.
Andrew spent the first 5 years of his career at Goldman Sachs, working in their Credit and Consumer/Retail Investment Banking Groups. Andrew is a graduate of Skidmore College where he was a member of the men’s soccer team.
Prior to joining KDSA, Justin was an Associate at Palladium Equity Partners, a middle market private equity firm. At Palladium, Justin was responsible for transaction execution and portfolio company management across Consumer and Business Services investments, with a focus on food and beverage companies.
Prior to Palladium, Justin began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Financial Sponsors Group at Jefferies after graduating from Stanford University, where he was team captain of the varsity men’s fencing team.
Steve Gaonach
Marketing & General Management (formerly KraftHeinz Heineken, and Pepsi)
Chris Gatzke
Sales and Demand Planning (Johnsonville; formerly KraftHeinz)
Stephen Valentin
Human Resources (formerly Livekindly, PepsiCo, and Sabra)
Shaun Richardson
Operations & International Expansion (Livekindlky and former Head of International for Fry’s Family Food Co.)
Tim Valdez
Food and Distribution Executive (CEO of Williams Distributors; formerly Cold Front Distribution, Nestlé, and Dreyer’s)
The Watkins Co.
Winona, MN
Williams Distributors
Spokane, WA
The Watkins Co.
Winona, MN / Closed: October 2024
Founded in 1868, The Watkins Company is a Minnesota-based food manufacturer specializing in high-quality spices, seasonings, extracts, and natural flavorings.
Website
Williams Distributors
Spokane, WA / Closed: June 2025
Williams Distributors is the largest independent, full-service direct-store-delivery (DSD) provider of frozen food products in the Northwest. The company operates across Eastern Washington, Northeast Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Northern Wyoming, serving more than 2,000 customer locations.
Website