PHOENIX BRANDS acquired by ORCHARD FOODS VALLEY

FrenchFood Capital becomes the majority shareholder of Fabulous French Brasseurs, a French brewing group structured around a portfolio of regional brands originating from several integrated craft breweries. The transaction reflects an ongoing consolidation trend within the fragmented craft beer market, where emerging multi-site platforms aggregate industrial assets and locally anchored brand equities. The group positions itself as a national consolidator of regional beer brands, combining territorial anchoring with industrial structuring and operational integration

CVC Capital Partners has entered into an agreement to acquire IRCA from Advent International, which has evolved into a global platform for ingredients serving the pastry, bakery, chocolate, and ice cream industries over the past few years. IRCA is a B2B manufacturer of high-value-added ingredients and semi-finished products catering to the artisanal, foodservice, and industrial segments. The group operates a global platform with 19 production sites and distributes over 7,000 product references across more than 100 countries, serving a diverse customer base ranging from local artisans to international restaurant chains and food manufacturers

The combination of Eat Happy and Hana’s European business establishes a unified pan-Asian convenience platform encompassing approximately 5,800 points of sale across 14 European nations. This transaction represents a complete equity realization for Permira Funds within the European market following an expansion period since 2019. The consolidation merges Hana’s deep footprint in Western Europe with Eat Happy’s established network in Central Europe. Blending these complementary operational networks removes regional redundancies and deepens the product matrix offered to major grocery corporations

Global specialty chemicals leader International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has entered into a definitive agreement to divest its Food Ingredients division to private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. As part of this corporate carve-out, IFF will roll over an approximate 10% minority equity stake in the newly independent business. This transaction structure ensures continued operational collaboration and technological cooperation between the two entities while allowing the seller's shareholders to participate in future value creation under the sponsor's ownership

Orange Capital Development has finalized the acquisition of an 80% majority stake in Effepi, marking a significant step in the construction of its specialized "Italian Frozen Food Excellence" platform. This strategic move follows the organization's previous acquisition of Gelit, a producer of frozen ready meals, and is designed to create a multidisciplinary frozen food hub. The strategic rationale for the transaction centers on the convergence of high-end dessert production with established savory meal distribution, allowing the group to offer a comprehensive "Italian experience" to global institutional and retail clients

The transaction is structured as a significant strategic investment by One Rock Capital Partners into Eat Happy Group to simultaneously fund the acquisition of Hana Group's European operations. This corporate combination merges two highly complementary convenience food providers to establish an integrated pan-European fresh food platform. The institutional capital injection secures the necessary funding to combine corporate assets without overleveraging the target's balance sheet. Upon completion, the combined operating structure will control approximately 5,800 points of sale across fourteen European nations

Ambienta SGR, through its Small Cap fund, has acquired a majority stake in The Bridge from the founding Negro Marcigaglia family. The founders have committed to reinvesting alongside the private equity firm and will continue to play a key leadership role in the company's development. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is to capitalize on the robust growth of the plant-based food sector, driven by consumer shifts toward sustainable and healthier diets. Ambienta intends to leverage its international network and sustainability expertise to accelerate The Bridge’s expansion, strengthen its organizational structure, and further invest in product innovation

LSDH has acquired 100% of Biscuiterie de Chambord following the retirement of the target company’s longtime director. The strategic rationale for the transaction is the continued diversification of LSDH’s portfolio into the artisanal and premium biscuit segment, a move that aligns with the group's long-term strategy of regional expansion. By integrating the biscuit maker, LSDH aims to leverage industrial and commercial synergies to consolidate and accelerate the development of the Chambord brand

NextStage AM has acquired a majority stake in the Société des Eaux Minérales d’Arcachon (SEMA), taking over from the long-term owner and wine merchant Jean Merlaut, who exited his entire position. The transaction was carried out pari passu through the NextStage Evergreen vehicle and the "Pépites & Territoires" FPCI, representing a combined equity ticket of €30 million. Hervé Maudet, the co-owner and long-standing director of the company, has been appointed President and maintains a minority stake in the new structure

AlphaPet Ventures has completed the acquisition of 100% of Cpro Food, marking its fifth strategic acquisition since 2020. This transaction serves as AlphaPet’s primary entry point into the Belgian market, a high-value territory for premium pet nutrition. The strategic rationale centers on integrating Cpro Food’s strong local brand equity and breeder network into AlphaPet’s European digital platform. The acquisition was financed through a combination of equity, led by Patria Investments and Venture Stars, and debt provided by CVC