HOVIS acquired by ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS

Apetit Plc has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Foodhills AB. This acquisition consolidates Apetit's position as a leading Northern European pea producer, giving it a 10% market share of European frozen pea production.

Ferrero Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of WK Kellogg Co via an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders will receive a cash consideration per share that represents a significant premium of approximately 40% over the company's 30-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP). The acquisition facilitates the delisting of WK Kellogg Co from the New York Stock Exchange, returning the business to private family ownership under the Ferrero umbrella. Strategically, this transaction marks Ferrero's entry into the North American breakfast category, complementing its existing strength in snacking and treats. It allows Ferrero to capture a new consumption occasion ("the morning meal") while significantly bolstering its industrial scale and leverage with major North American retailers through the addition of high-volume, staple grocery brands.

NewPrinces S.p.A. has successfully completed the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Diageo Operations Italy S.p.A. from the global beverage giant Diageo. This strategic transaction includes the transfer of the renowned production facility at Santa Vittoria d’Alba and its entire workforce, ensuring continuity of employment. As part of the agreement, NewPrinces has secured a fixed-term service contract to continue bottling products for Diageo during a transitional period, guaranteeing immediate production volumes. This acquisition significantly bolsters NewPrinces' industrial footprint in the beverage sector, adding specialized bottling capabilities for spirits and wines to its existing diverse food manufacturing portfolio.

Charterhouse Capital Partners agreed to sell Casa Optima to a group of investors led by Terlos (ADIA). The transaction represents a 2.6x return for Charterhouse. The strategic rationale for Terlos is to capitalize on the continued "premiumization" of the artisanal gelato market and use Casa Optima as a platform to double its size through further international expansion and consolidation. The deal follows a period of intense value creation including a scientific pricing strategy, the integration of four major acquisitions, and a total revamp of the commercial organization.

A&M Capital Europe acquired a majority stake in Isla Delice from the private equity firm Perwyn. The management team, significantly reinvested alongside AMCE. The transaction aims to support the company's next phase of growth, specifically targeting pan-European consolidation in the fragmented Halal food sector. AMCE intends to leverage its operational capabilities and capital to fund further acquisitions (build-ups) across Europe and to expand the product range into new categories. This deal positions Isla Delice to become the undisputed European champion in Halal consumer goods.

Poppies Bakeries acquired 100% of Milcamps from Jacquet Brossard (a subsidiary of the French agricultural cooperative Limagrain). This acquisition strengthens Poppies' leadership in the waffle category, complementing its existing portfolio. Milcamps brings EUR16 million in revenue and specialized industrial capabilities in Dour. The deal allows Poppies to expand its footprint in the retail and foodservice channels in Belgium and France.

Aksia Group has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in Fornaio del Casale from Riello Investimenti SGR and the founding family. Both Riello Investimenti (which acquired its stake in 2023) and the family will reinvest to retain minority stakes. The acquisition aims to support an aggressive "buy-and-build" strategy to create a leading group in the sweet and savory snack market.

Premier Foods has agreed to acquire 100% of Merchant Gourmet from its founding shareholders. The brand is projected to generate revenues of c.28 million (FY2026), showing strong double-digit growth. Premier Foods intends to apply its "branded growth model"—expanding distribution, accelerating innovation (NPD), and increasing marketing investment—to scale the business, replicating the success of its previous acquisitions of The Spice Tailor and FUEL10K.

Nactarome Group agreed to acquire Claremont Ingredients Ltd. from THG Nutrition, a subsidiary of THG PLC, in a strategic bolt-on enhancing its United Kingdom operations and sports nutrition foothold. Transaction facts outline a full ownership transfer of the flavour specialist, aligning with Nactarome's aggressive M&A playbook of tuck-in acquisitions to broaden capabilities. Strategic rationale shines through perfect complementarity: Claremont's entrenched expertise in sports nutrition masking, bakery, bars, and beverages dovetails seamlessly with Nactarome's natural flavours and colours heritage, amplifying innovation pipelines and customer-centric solutions. Timing capitalizes on booming demand for performance ingredients, enabling cross-pollination of production know-how, analytical tools, and global networks—particularly strengthening Nactarome's UK presence amid sector tailwinds. Post-deal objectives prioritize collaborative R&D for clean-label breakthroughs, agility in trend response, and expanded portfolio value for shared clients, fostering mutual growth trajectories.

Ferrero, through its subsidiary Ferrara Candy, entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire 100% of CPK from Eurazeo. For Eurazeo, this marks the end of an 8-year investment cycle where it successfully regrouped heritage brands into a standalone French champion. For Ferrero, this acquisition bolsters its presence in the European sugar confectionery market and provides a strong industrial base in France. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025.