EUROPE – Cash-strapped specialty food company, Aryzta has announced the sale of its sandwich production business in Switzerland to Bell Food Group subsidiary, Hilcona for an undisclosed sum.
The sale comes one month after the Zurich-based food company signed an agreement to sell its North American business to an affiliate of US private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg for US$850 million, as part of its efforts to reduce debt.
As part of the deal, Hilcona will acquire Aryzta’s production premises located in Schlieren and will take on around 25 employees.
Aryzta Switzerland’s sandwich assets will join Hilcona’s production site in Orbe, Vaud, with its approximately 500 employees.
With the acquisition, the Bell Food Group subsidiary will expand its manufacturing capacity and further solidify its position in the freshly prepared sandwiches market.
Hilcona supplies a range of fresh products such as pasta and ready meals to the retail market.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hilcona will add to its production capacity for daily-prepared fresh sandwiches from 1 August 2021 onwards.
“Freshly baked bread and the highest-quality ingredients are still the most important recipe for success,” said Lorenz Wyss, CEO of the Bell Food Group.
“With proximity to the customer, innovation and traditional manufactory quality, we will stand out from our competitors in the growing market for ultra-fresh products.”
Dawn Foods acquires Polish food ingredients company Jabex
In another deal, bakery producer and ingredients supplier Dawn Foods acquired Jabex, a Poland-based supplier of ingredients and other solutions for the confectionery, bakery and ice cream markets.
Through the deal, Dawn aims to expand its global manufacturing footprint and strengthen its operations and supply chain in Central and Eastern Europe.
“The acquisition of Jabex is an exciting expansion of Dawn’s manufacturing capabilities and customer base in Europe,” said Carrie Jones-Barber, CEO of Dawn Foods.
According to Dawn, Jabex specialises in fruit-based products for the bakery industry, and the company intends to strengthen its own fruit-based offering through the acquisition.
“Jabex’s products are complementary to Dawn’s own industry-leading product portfolio. We look forward to working with our new team members from Jabex to deliver our insights, innovations and bakery expertise to even more customers, together,” Jones-Barber continued.
A year ago, Dawn Foods announced that it had entered an agreement to sell its North American frozen manufacturing business to Rise Baking Company.
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