POLENGHI acquired by PROGRESSIO SGR

Ardian acquired a majority stake in Cerelia from IK Investment Partners. During IK's tenure, Cerelia doubled its size via acquisitions (Bioderij, BakeAway, English Bay Batter). Ardian's investment thesis is built on stabilizing US margins and continuing the pan-European and transatlantic consolidation of the bakery sector.

Apax Partners Development acquired a majority stake in Routin following a competitive auction process managed by Transaction R. The transaction marked the exit of Credit Mutuel Equity as the majority shareholder, though they reinvested significantly to remain as a minority partner. The new investment cycle aims to leverage the international success of the "1883" brand in the coffee and cocktail markets.

Riello Investimenti SGR has acquired a 73% majority stake in Foodness S.p.A. The remaining capital is held by the founders (Paolo Fermi, Franco Lusetti, and Alberto Andrei), who retain their management roles, alongside industry veterans Mario Muttoni and Roberto Venturi. Additionally, a "Club Deal" of private investors organized by Pigreco Corporate Finance has co-invested in the transaction. This partnership aims to support Foodness's rapid growth trajectory (CAGR +40%) and consolidate its leadership in the "wellness" beverage niche within the HoReCa channel.

The transaction is structured as a secondary leverage buyout executing the complete exit of TA Associates after a four-year holding period. The departing majority shareholder relinquishes control to facilitate the next institutional expansion phase. Under the definitive agreement, the incoming sponsor acquires an approximate 80% equity stake in the holding structure. Co-founder Jacques Attal and the executive management team led by Yann Coléou roll over substantial equity into the new vehicle. This significant reinvestment aligns long-term management incentives directly with institutional investor objectives. Debt financing is fully provided by BlueBay Asset Management via a €200M unitranche facility. The highly aggressive pricing terms offered by this credit fund displaced the incumbent financial partner Ares from the final syndicate. This flexible capital structure provides ample dry powder to fund imminent cross-border consolidation without draining operational liquidity. Final closing is projected for the end of the second quarter of 2019 following standard anti-trust approvals. Rothschild acted as exclusive financial advisor to the sell-side corporate entities. Cambon Partners and Alantra provided dual M&A advisory services to the buy-side consortium during these private negotiations.

Just months after the acquisition of Michel Kremer, Mademoiselle Desserts completed another structural add-on by absorbing Les Delices des 7 Vallees from the private equity fund Sagard. The operation was financed through bank debt. This acquisition allows Mademoiselle Desserts to conquer the strategic "sweet snacking" segment (donuts, muffins) and significantly strengthen its presence in Mass Market Retail (GMS), a channel where the target excels. Sagard exited the capital after backing the company since 2015.

Ambienta SGR has acquired a majority stake in AromataGroup from its founders and management. This acquisition marks Ambienta's entry into the food ingredients sector, serving as a platform investment to consolidate the fragmented European market for natural flavours and colours. The deal capitalizes on the "Clean Label" megatrend and the shift from synthetic to natural ingredients. Ambienta plans to support the company's international expansion and product diversification through an aggressive buy-and-build strategy. The existing management team, led by Hans Udo Wenzel, reinvests in the transaction.

FrenchFood Capital, a Paris‑ based private equity firm focused on the food sector, entered the capital of Les 2 Marmottes in 2018 through a growth equity investment of approximately EUR 12 million. The transaction was structured as a minority stake, designed to support the company’s continued expansion in France and abroad while enabling the existing family‑owned management team to retain control. The capital injection was deployed to strengthen production capacity, broaden distribution, and reinforce the brand’s positioning in the fast‑growing herbal infusion and tea categories. FrenchFood Capital’s strategy emphasized value‑accretive growth, combining organic expansion with selected commercial and operational improvements, including better penetration of large and medium‑size supermarkets and selective development in the hospitality, restaurant, and catering segment. The partnership also aimed to deepen the brand’s association with naturalness and well‑being, capitalizing on a broader consumer trend towards cleaner, plant‑based ingredients.

Parquest Capital acquired a majority stake in Sopral from the Avril Group. This strategic carve-out allowed Sopral to gain independence and accelerate its growth in the consolidating premium pet food market. Groupe Avril remained involved as a minority shareholder through its subsidiary Sofiproteol. The deal also included several regional and sector-specialized minority investors (IDIA, Agro Invest, Unexo) to support international expansion and industrial optimization.

IFF completed the acquisition of Frutarom in October 2018, creating a unified global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition. The combined company trades under the ticker IFF on the NYSE and Euronext Paris, with a later listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, while Frutarom’s own listing on the Tel Aviv and London exchanges was delisted. The integration creates a platform with expanded capabilities in naturals, savory solutions, natural colors, food‑protection ingredients, and health‑oriented nutrition, broadening the customer base and increasing exposure to fast‑growing private‑label and SME segments. IFF expects the combination to generate accelerated top‑line growth (5–7% annually) and high‑teens EPS growth on a pro‑forma, currency‑neutral basis between 2019 and 2021, supported by approximately USD 145 million in annual cost synergies by the third full year, achieved through procurement optimization, footprint rationalization, and overhead reduction.

In 2018, Huel closed a $20M Series A funding round led by Highland Europe, marking the company's first external institutional investment after three years of bootstrapped growth. At the time of the round, Huel had already reached profitability and established a presence in over 80 countries, driven entirely by organic growth and a direct-to-consumer online model. The funding was designed to accelerate international expansion, with a particular focus on the United States and key European markets, as well as to support new product development beyond its original protein powder range. Highland Europe, a growth equity firm specializing in high-growth European consumer and technology companies, was selected for its track record in scaling e-commerce brands globally. The round provided the financial infrastructure for Huel to invest in supply chain optimization, R&D, and retail distribution, laying the groundwork for its subsequent expansion into ready-to-drink, snack bars, and hot meal products.