Food Business Africa

Kenyan food processor SimpliFine enters baked goods market following acquisition of Ennsvalley Bakery

Oct 5, 2021Oct 5, 2021 Editor

KENYA – SimpliFine, a food production company offering fresh, locally-sourced meat, vegetables, baked goods, and other foods to restaurants, hotels, and retailers across East Africa has completed the acquisition of Kenyan based Ennsvalley Bakery. SimpliFine has taken full ownership of the premium baked goods manufacturer Ennsvalley, from Kenya’s leading milling company, Unga Group, in a deal that was entered through its cold chain logistic firm BigCold. With the acquisition, SimpliFine is set to inject US$500,000 worth of investment in the next six months into the operations. The investment is earmarked…

Namibia Breweries in discussion for possible disposal of minority stake in Heineken South Africa to parent company

Oct 4, 2021Oct 4, 2021 Editor

NAMIBIA – Namibia’s leading beer maker Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) has received an offer from Heineken NV to acquire its 25% shareholding in Heineken South Africa, which would be inter-conditional on the potential Distell transaction. Earlier this year, the Dutch multinational brewing company Heineken, made its intention of entering new alcohol market categories of wine and spirits, with the acquisition of Distell, South Africa’s leading producer and maker of wines, ciders, spirit and ready-to-drink beverages. The potential transaction, should it proceed, is subject to several conditions, one of which relates…

Lactalis expands dairy portfolio with acquisition of Leerdammer and Shostka brands

Oct 4, 2021Oct 4, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – French dairy business Lactalis has completed the acquisition of European dairy brands Royal Bel Leerdammer NL, Bel Italia, Bel Deutschland, Leerdammer and all related rights from multinational cheese marketer Bel Group. Lactalis said that the transaction, which involves Bel Shostka Ukraine, fits perfectly with its strategic priorities, which focus on top-quality product development. Leerdammer, one of Europe’s most iconic cheese brands, will now become part of Lactalis which aims to continue developing the brand and boost its international business. “By acquiring Leerdammer and Shostka, we have now completed our offering with a range of food brands that consumers know…

Nomad Foods completes acquisition of Fortenova Group’s frozen food business

Oct 4, 2021Oct 4, 2021 Editor

EUROPE – Frozen food manufacturer Nomad Foods has completed its acquisition of Fortenova Group’s frozen food business after clinching the agreement to do so in March this year. The acquisition which was made for €615m (US$714m) gives Nomad foods an expanded footprint which includes attractive markets such as Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovenia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Nomad Foods is expected to have a lead market presence as Fortenova’s two anchor brands, Ledo and Frikom, had strong consumer awareness and number one market share in many of these markets. Through the frozen…

US private equity firm CD&R to acquire UK supermarket Morrisons for US$9.5B

Oct 4, 2021Oct 4, 2021 Editor

UK – U.S private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is set to take control of Britain’s fourth-biggest supermarket group Morrisons after winning the auction for the retailer with a 7 billion pound ($9.5 billion) bid. CD&R’s 287 pence per share bid narrowly beat the one made by a consortium led by Softbank (9434.T) owned Fortress Investment Group which had made an offer worth just a penny less per share at 286 pence. Morrisons’ board recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the 287 pence per share offer at a meeting slated for Oct. 19, saying the…

African Capital Alliance acquires minority stake in Nigerian fast food restaurant owner Food Concepts

Sep 30, 2021Sep 30, 2021 Editor

NIGERIA – Food Concepts, a leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operator in West Africa has welcomed a new partner in its business to steer it to future growth. Development Partners International (DPI), the main investor of the company has sold 31% stake of the fast-food chain to African Capital Alliance (ACA), a leading pan-African alternative investment firm. Following the deal, ACA and DPI will work together to support Food Concepts on its next phase of growth and help drive the business’ regional expansion strategy. “DPI has been there for us…

Ardent Mills expands into gluten-free milling with acquisition of Firebird Artisan Mills

Sep 30, 2021Sep 30, 2021 Editor

USA – Ardent Mills has agreed to acquire the assets of Firebird Artisan Mills, as it looks to strengthen its position in the gluten-free milled grains market. Specializing in the milling of gluten-free specialty grains and pulses, Firebird is part of Agspring, a holding company based in Leawood, Kansas, US. Under the Agspring umbrella, Firebird was established in 2014 with the acquisition of the assets of Dakota Prairie Organic Flour Co. in Harvey. In 2017, Firebird added two production lines to the Harvey operation and said it believed the company had become the “largest 100%…

French food ingredients supplier Eurovanille acquires Solvay’s vanilla business

Sep 28, 2021Sep 28, 2021 Editor

GERMANY – French-based vanilla ingredients supplier Eurovanile has acquired Solvay’s Vanifolia range of vanilla flavours as part of efforts to expand its food formulation business. As part of the deal, Solvay will maintain ownership of its Rhovanil business line and will provide Rhovanil Natural CW to Eurovanille for the production of Vanifolia for the next three years. This is the first acquisition by Eurovanille for its growing food formulations business, building on its existing vanilla expertise, know-how, global presence, and supply of an expanded natural product line to customers. The range comprises food formulations that use Solvay’s Rhovanil Natural CW as the primary ingredient…

Tekni-Plex acquires Keyes Packaging Group as Crown Holdings builds new can facility in Nevada

Sep 28, 2021Sep 28, 2021 Editor

US – Tekni-Plex is expanding its packaging portfolio with the acquisition of Keyes Packaging Group, a leading supplier of environmentally friendly and protective packaging solutions for the food and beverage industry. Keyes consists of two diverse companies: Keyes Fibre – manufactures molded fibre trays for packaging and shipping apples, avocados, eggs and wine bottles – and Wrap Pack, a producer fruit and vegetable speciality-tissue protective wrap for storing and shipping pears, apples and citrus fruit. The acquisition adds Tekni-Plex’s tray and flats portfolio, strengthening its offerings to customers in the food and beverage…

Kraft Heinz to expand presence in Brazil’s condiments and sauce market with acquisition of Hemmer

Sep 26, 2021Sep 26, 2021 Editor

BRAZIL – American food company Kraft Heinz has signed an agreement to acquire Brazilian food producer Companhia Hemmer Indústria e Comércio (Hemmer) for an undisclosed sum. Headquartered in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Hemmer has a reach history spanning over 106 years and primarily offers condiments and sauces. The deal which is subject to regulatory approvals by CADE (Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense) will see Kraft Heinz acquire more than 250 “meal-enhancing” offerings. According to Kraft, these offerings will support its strategy of accelerating its international ‘taste elevation’ product platform and growing its presence in…