From Private Equity to Pickles: The Entrepreneurial Leap with Pat Viancourt S2 (EP 15)

In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with food industry executive and entrepreneur Pat Viancourt, owner and CEO of Herman Pickle Company in Garrettsville, Ohio.

With decades of leadership experience across Seagram, Nestlé Waters, Hospitality Mints, Paragon Foods, and multiple private-equity-backed businesses, Pat shares how he went from corporate CPG and private equity to owning a family-built pickle company with both beloved legacy brands and major national partnerships.

For listeners thinking about buying a business, exiting corporate life, or scaling a niche manufacturing company, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons on leadership, humility, and growth.

Mark and Pat discuss:

• From Corporate to Ownership – How Pat moved from big consumer product companies and private equity into owning his own business.
• The Entrepreneurial Leap – Why he walked away from a secure executive role to search for a company to buy during COVID.
• Finding Herman Pickle Co. – The serendipitous story of revisiting a company he first saw 10 years earlier and turning it into his own.
• Checking Your Ego at the Door – What it really means to wear every hat in a small/mid-sized business, from "presidential to janitorial".
• Brand & Product Strength – The story behind Don Herman's half-sour and full-sour pickles and why customers say, "That's what a pickle should taste like."
• Nathan's & Private Label – How Herman Pickle Co. became the exclusive licensed manufacturer for Nathan's Famous pickles and a major player in private-label refrigerated pickles.
• Growth & Automation – Balancing labour challenges, automation, and operational efficiency while expanding distribution across the U.S.
• Vision for the Future – How Pat plans to make Herman Pickle Co. "bigger, faster, stronger" without losing its quality, culture, or roots.

Connect with Mark Dorman:

• Succession Plus US

• LinkedIn: Mark Dorman

• LinkedIn: Succession Plus

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• (330)-416-9271

• [e-mail]

About the Guest:

Pat Viancourt is an experienced CEO, food industry executive, and business owner. Over his career, he has led and grown companies in food manufacturing, foodservice distribution, secondary packaging, and custom printing, working with respected private equity groups such as Linsalata Capital Partners, Odyssey Investment Partners, and others.

In 2021, Pat purchased Herman Pickle Company in Garrettsville, Ohio, a family-founded business known for its Don Herman fermented pickles and its role as the exclusive licensed manufacturer of Nathan's Famous refrigerated pickles. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its branded, licensed, private-label, and foodservice business while investing in automation and operational efficiency.

Pat brings together corporate discipline, entrepreneurial courage, and a deep respect for legacy brands—showing how a well-run niche manufacturer can grow, innovate, and still stay true to its roots.