North Castle opts for Atkins foods

North Castle Partners gobbled up a controlling interest in Atkins Nutritional Holdings Inc., naming as CEO Monty Sharma, the former CEO of Naked Juice Co., which North Castle sold in January to PepsiCo Inc. of Purchase, N.Y.

The companies did not disclose financial terms.

Based in Greenwich, North Castle invests in companies whose products and services promote healthy living.

Atkins Nutritional Holdings is named for famed nutritionist Robert Atkins and is based in New York City. The company completed a bankruptcy reorganization in January 2006, shifting from a focus on advising consumers on dieting by limiting carbohydrates to actually selling nutritional bars, shakes and other foods.

Since January, Atkins had been led by Toby Smith, who has been chairman of flatware maker Oneida Ltd. and apparel vendor London Fog Industries Inc., as well as CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society.