Direct-to-consumer startup Boll & Branch to accelerate wholesale, retail growth

A designer and retailer of sustainable home goods is looking to jumpstart its growth with an investment from a private equity firm.

Boll & Branch, which specializes in luxury, sustainably-sourced sheets, pillows, mattresses and  towels, received a $100 million strategic investment from the flagship buyout fund of L Catterton.  The investment will fuel Boll & Branch's growth, accelerate the expansion of its retail and wholesale businesses, and support the continued success of its direct-to-consumer business, the company said.

Boll & Branch’s products are Fair Trade Certified, derived from ethically-sourced raw materials, without the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides or GMOs. Also, the products are  made in factories that empower their workers and prioritize sustainable incomes.

Boll & Branch was founded in 2014  by Scott and Missy Tannen, who will continue to lead the company along with the current leadership team. According to the company,  it has been profitable since 2016 as a family-owned-and-operated business. In October 2018, Boll & Branch opened its first —and so far only — retail store, at The Short Hills Mall, Short Hill, N.J.

"L Catterton brings unmatched experience in direct-to-consumer retail and home goods and is the ultimate value-added partner," said Scott Tannen, CEO, Boll & Branch, which is based in Summit, New Jersey. "Every set of Boll & Branch sheets we sell triggers a chain of goodness, which directly impacts tens of thousands of farmers and factory workers worldwide. Our success is proof that a focus on sustainability and positive social impact can go hand-in-hand with a high-growth, profitable business."

Current and past investments  by L Catterton include The Honest Company, Peloton, Elemis, Mizzen+Main, Nutrafol, Restoration Hardware, Rhone, Third Love, and Tula.

"With its ethically positioned, clean and sustainable products, Boll & Branch is one of the most beloved bedding brands and a leader in the rapidly growing direct-to consumer home goods category," said Nik Thukral, a managing partner of L Catterton's flagship buyout fund. "Boll & Branch's approach capitalizes on several compelling trends including the emergence of authentic, pure, and chemical free products that can be traced back to their origin, as well as consumers' heightened focus on healthy living.”