McWin Partners

McWin is a private investment firm co-founded by Henry McGovern and Steven K. Winegar, specializing in growth-stage investments within the food service and food technology sectors. The firm partners with exceptional founders and CEOs who are driving sustainable disruption across the global food ecosystem, with a strategic focus on connecting capital, entrepreneurs, brands, and technology to deliver long-term value.

The firm operates multiple dedicated funds targeting distinct segments of the food industry. McWin Food Ecosystem Fund I (McWin FEF I), launched in September 2021 with a target of €250 million, is nearly fully invested and covers both food service brands and food technology companies. The fund has backed leading foodservice brands including Burger King Germany, Vapiano, and Gail's Bakery, as well as category leaders in alternative protein, sustainable packaging, and vertical farming. McWin has also raised a dedicated food technology fund targeting EUR 250 million to invest in leading growth-stage companies across key food technology verticals in Europe and North America. Most recently, the team closed a EUR 525 million restaurant fund — the McWin Restaurant Fund — exclusively targeting large premier foodservice opportunities with a primary focus on Europe.

McWin's portfolio reflects a broad investment thesis spanning quick-service restaurants (QSR), premium bakery, healthy food concepts, cultivated meat (Upside Foods), precision fermentation-derived proteins (The EVERY Company), vertical farming (Oishii), restaurant digital technology (MENU), and sustainable packaging materials (Footprint). The firm applies a "digital first" strategy across its restaurant portfolio and emphasizes vertical integration, brand building, and operational scale.

With a leadership team of more than 30 professionals and a growing restaurant portfolio exceeding 1,500 premier locations, McWin brings deep operational expertise and an extensive food industry network to its portfolio companies. The firm's investment approach includes a robust due diligence and opportunity vetting process, with a focus on people, brand development, and scalable growth. McWin positions itself as a partner of choice for founders, investors, and management teams seeking to transform the global food system through innovation and entrepreneurial ambition.