Central Eastside: Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Apprentice coffee roaster Caitlin Morgan operates a roaster at Stumptown Coffee Roasters' Annex location in Portland's Central Eastside, January 27, 2015. The company's aim is to get coffee bagged and shipped within two days of roasting.

(Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

The private equity firm that helped Stumptown Coffee Roasters grow nationally might be contemplating a sale of its stake in the Portland company.

The Wall Street Journal reported, through unnamed sources, that TSG Consumer Partners LLC is already working with financial advisers to put together a possible sale.

A spokesman for TSG declined to comment Friday to The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Stumptown did not immediately respond to questions.

The investment from TSG kicked up some backlash in 2011, when many wondered if founder Duane Sorenson was still leading the company.

At the time, Stumptown officials maintained said the private-equity backer was needed to expand locations and offerings. There are now shops dotted around the Northwest and in Los Angeles and New York.

TSG invests in consumer product companies, such as VitaminWater and makeup.

The Wall Street Journal reports that TSG owns about 90 percent of the company.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger