Big Heart Pet Brands acquired by The J.M. Smucker Company

Solina Group continues its aggressive external growth strategy by acquiring the "Industrial Flavoring" division of the Finnish Paulig Group. This transaction includes the subsidiaries Lihel Oy (Finland), Nordfalks AS (Estonia), and Nordfalks Industrie AB (Sweden). The acquisition adds approximately EUR54 million in revenue to Solina, pushing its projected turnover to EUR320 million for 2015. Strategically, this deal completes Solina's coverage of Northern Europe (following the 2014 acquisition of SFK Food in Denmark) and opens new markets in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the Baltics

Pamplona Capital Management has acquired Partner in Pet Food (PPF) from Advent International. This secondary buyout marks a successful exit for Advent, which originally carved out the business (then Provimi Pet Food) in 2011 for EUR188 million. Under Advent's ownership, PPF consolidated its position in Central & Eastern Europe and expanded into Western Europe (notably the Netherlands). Pamplona intends to back the current CEO, Attila Balogh, and continue the buy-and-build strategy to create a pan-European champion

The founding family of Delices des 7 Vallees has opened the capital to private equity firm Sagard in an Owner Buy-Out (OBO) transaction, while the company's leader retained a significant stake. The partnership aims to fund an ambitious development plan, including doubling the production capacity of one of its French sites (opened in 2010) and establishing the company's first manufacturing plant outside of France to accelerate international sales. The deal is supported by capex credit lines and potential equity injections for future growth

A.G. BARR has completed the acquisition of Funkin, the UK brand leader in the professional mixology market. The strategic rationale for the deal is the immediate integration of a fast-growing, high-margin brand (c. £9 million in sales) that provides A.G. BARR with a strategic "bridge" into the UK on-trade channel. By combining Funkin’s product innovation with A.G. BARR’s industrial and logistics scale, the group expects to accelerate the brand's international expansion and its penetration into the off-trade (retail) market

Olam International agreed to acquire 100% of the equity of McCleskey Mills Inc. from its owners. The deal is structured as a full‑control buy‑out, with the key employee shareholders, including Joe West, remaining in the business to drive integration and future growth. MMI brings into Olam’s portfolio the third‑largest U.S. peanut sheller, with two large shelling plants and a secure position in the Southeastern U.S. peanut belt, which produces 70% of the nation’s peanuts and is the lowest‑cost major origin globally

Yildiz Holding acquired United Biscuits from private equity firms Blackstone and PAI Partners. This transaction created the world's third-largest biscuit manufacturer. The strategic rationale was highly complementary: UB provided market dominance in the UK and Europe, regions where Yildiz had minimal presence, while Yildiz offered UB access to its strong distribution networks in North America, the Middle East, and Asia. The deal marked a successful exit for the private equity owners, who had held the asset since 2006 and had previously sold the salty snacks division (KP Snacks) to Intersnack

Royal Wessanen has agreed to sell its frozen snack subsidiary, Izico (renamed GoodLife Foods), to the private equity firm Egeria. This divestment allows Wessanen to refocus its strategy entirely on "healthy and sustainable food" (brands like Bjorg, Clipper). For Egeria, this acquisition marks the beginning of a "Buy-and-Build" platform that would eventually become GoodLife Foods.

PAI Partners acquired a 50% stake in Labeyrie Fine Foods, replacing the outgoing sponsor LBO France. The transaction valued the company at approximately EUR600 million. The historic shareholder, the Lur Berri cooperative, retained the other 50% stake, maintaining a co-control governance structure. PAI's entry was aimed at accelerating Labeyrie's international expansion and consolidating the fragmented premium food market in Europe.

21 Invest acquired a majority stake in Forno d’Asolo, a leading family-owned Italian company in the frozen bakery market. The transaction was driven by the founders' need to address a generational transition and professionalize the company's management structure to unlock its next phase of growth. The Gallina brothers, the founders, recognized the necessity for a more managerial approach to scale the business and sought a partner with relevant expertise. 21 Invest was selected as the ideal partner due to its long-standing relationship with the founders, its deep understanding of the business, and its proven track record in successfully managing ownership transitions in family-run enterprises

Symrise AG has acquired Diana Group from private equity firm Ardian (formerly AXA Private Equity) and minority shareholder Motion Equity Partners. This transaction creates a unique platform for natural extracts and functional ingredients, allowing Symrise to diversify its portfolio significantly. A key strategic driver is the entry into the highly attractive and resilient pet food market, where Diana holds a leading position. The deal also strengthens Symrise's backward integration by securing access to natural raw materials