Sunflower Grocery Store is owned by Sprouts, the majority of which is, in turn, owned by Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm.
While the transaction was technically a purchase of Sunflower by Sprouts, the companies involved referred to it as a "merger." This terminology reflected a mutual respect for the Sunflower stores, their staff, and their customers.
Understanding the Ownership Chain
To clarify the ownership, consider the following structure:
| Entity | Relationship to Preceding Entity |
|---|---|
| Apollo Global Management | Majority owner of Sprouts |
| Sprouts | Purchaser and ultimate owner of Sunflower |
| Sunflower Grocery Store | Acquired by Sprouts |
This means that while Sprouts directly operates and manages Sunflower stores (or has integrated them into its operations), the ultimate control and majority ownership rest with Apollo Global Management, a significant player in the private equity sector.
