REVOLUTION TEA acquired by LIFEBRANDS NATURAL FOOD

JBS S.A. has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of Vivera from the private equity firm Gilde Buy Out Partners. This transaction represents a major strategic milestone for JBS, granting it an immediate, scalable industrial platform in the European plant-based market. Unlike a simple bolt-on, JBS intends to operate Vivera as a standalone business unit, leveraging its specialized R&D capabilities and brand strength while providing it with JBS's massive global distribution network to accelerate growth. This acquisition allows the world's largest meatpacker to credibly compete in the high-growth alternative protein sector, directly challenging incumbents like Beyond Meat and Nestle in the European retail landscape.

Ambienta-backed Nactarome Group completed the acquisition of TasteConnection from its founders, marking its fourth add-on in 2.5 years and establishing a UK industry hub. Transaction facts detail full ownership transfer of the seasonings specialist, integrating its Gloucestershire facility adjacent to Nactarome's existing operations for streamlined synergies. Rationale centers on strategic adjacency in clean-label flavourings, with TasteConnection's snacks and savoury dominance complementing Nactarome's top-notes portfolio to create comprehensive aromatic solutions. This bolt-on exemplifies platform consolidation in natural ingredients, where sustainability-focused PE deploys dry powder for high-growth niches—benchmarking Ambienta's serial add-ons against peers and signaling robust M&A pipelines for clean-label leaders targeting defensive consumer staples.

LANXESS AG has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Emerald Kalama Chemical from the US private equity firm American Securities LLC. This acquisition is a major strategic step for LANXESS, significantly strengthening its "Consumer Protection" segment by adding a complementary portfolio of high-margin preservatives and animal hygiene products. The deal also expands LANXESS's footprint in North America, which accounts for nearly half of the target's sales. The transaction is fully financed through LANXESS's existing liquidity and is expected to generate significant annual synergies within three years of completion.

Ergon Capital, a mid-market private equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in the Millbo-BioNaturals Group. This deal represents a strategic play within the high-growth natural food ingredients sector, aimed at transforming a family-owned technical leader into a global institutional platform. The strategic rationale for the investment centers on leveraging Ergon’s international network and financial resources to accelerate the group's geographic expansion and to pursue a consolidation strategy in a highly fragmented market. The structure ensures strong management continuity, with the CEO and former controlling shareholder, Alessandro Boggiani, reinvesting in the business to drive the next phase of development. This transaction follows the buyer's existing sector expertise, notably its previous investment in the bakery segment.

Cronos Capital Partners, alongside a group of private investors, acquired a majority stake in Everton, the Genoese tea, herbal‑infusion, and soluble‑preparation manufacturer, via a newly formed vehicle funded primarily through a substantial capital increase aimed at financing international growth and M&A activity. The operation marked a shift from full family control (held by the Dodero‑Donelli group) to a majority‑backed, partnership‑style structure, with founding shareholders Filippo and Federico Dodero remaining in top management roles alongside the existing executive team to ensure continuity. The strategic rationale centers on Everton’s position as Italy’s leading private‑label tea producer, with over 500 SKUs, three production sites in Italy, India, and Croatia, and a joint venture in the US. For Cronos Capital Partners, Everton represents a resilient, anti‑cyclical, export‑oriented industrial platform in a consolidated yet fragmentation‑prone segment, with a clear playbook for growth via targeted acquisitions of other Italian and international operators in the same tea, infusion, and soluble‑beverage space. The transaction is therefore structured to unlock capital for both organic expansion (new production lines, capacity increases) and inorganic growth, while preserving the entrepreneurial and operational DNA of the founding family.

Gruppo Illy sold a 20% minority stake in its operating company, Illycaffè SpA, to affiliates of Rhône Capital in a strategic transaction valued at around EUR 200 million. The deal was signed in November 2020 and closed in early 2021, marking the first time since the company’s founding in 1933 that Illycaffè opened its capital to a non‑family institutional investor. The transaction was structured as a minority‑stake entry, with Rhône committed to remaining a non‑controlling shareholder to support the Illy family’s long‑term stewardship. The strategic rationale centers on Illycaffè’s ambition to accelerate international growth, particularly in the United States, the world’s largest coffee market, and to strengthen its presence in at‑home and digital channels. The minority‑stake transaction provides Illycaffè with additional capital, governance breadth, and strategic support to invest in US distribution, branded cafés, online sales, and sustainability‑linked initiatives, while preserving the family’s control and heritage‑driven positioning.

Amsterdam Commodities N.V. (Acomo) has acquired the Global Ingredients business of SunOpta Inc. in a debt-free, cash-free transaction. This transformative acquisition adds Tradin Organic, a global leader in organic ingredients, to Acomo's existing portfolio of conventional commodities (spices, tea, seeds). For SunOpta, the divestiture represents a strategic pivot to focus exclusively on its high-growth, plant-based food and beverage manufacturing business. The deal proceeds were used by SunOpta to pay down debt and fund capacity expansion in plant-based milk production. The transaction adds approximately EUR450 million in revenue to Acomo and significantly expands its footprint in the "healthy and sustainable" food segment.

Platinum Equity acquired a controlling stake in Biscuit International from its previous shareholders (Qualium Investissement). The transaction positions Platinum Equity to support the company's aggressive buy-and-build strategy in the fragmented European private label market. With over EUR500 million in revenue, Biscuit International serves as a scalable platform to acquire other local biscuit manufacturers across Europe, leveraging Platinum's financial resources and operational expertise.

Haudecoeur, backed by Ergon Capital Partners and the founding family, completed the acquisition of Palais Impérial from its founders, Nicolas Pacheny and Arnaud Gillier, who reinvest alongside existing shareholders. The transaction represents a strategic bolt-on acquisition executed within the framework of Haudecoeur’s ongoing buy-and-build strategy following its primary LBO completed one year earlier. Structured as a majority investment at the group level, the deal leverages existing acquisition financing lines to support external growth initiatives. From a strategic standpoint, the transaction enables Haudecoeur to internalize a product category where it previously relied on partner brands, notably in tea. By integrating Palais Impérial, the group strengthens its branded offering and gains direct exposure to the green tea segment, where the target holds a leading position in France. The combination enhances cross-selling opportunities and broadens the product portfolio, reinforcing the group’s value proposition toward both retail and distribution partners. Additionally, the deal aligns with a broader sector consolidation trend in specialty and ethnic food segments, where scale, brand ownership, and sourcing capabilities are key differentiators.

Glanbia Nutritionals has acquired the Canadian flavor designer Foodarom for CAD $60 million (~USD $45 million). This acquisition aligns with Glanbia's strategy to grow its "Nutritional Solutions" (NS) division by adding complementary capabilities. Foodarom's expertise in custom flavors and masking agents is highly synergistic with Glanbia's core protein business: it allows Glanbia to sell not just the protein powder, but the entire flavored formulation (e.g., "Strawberry Whey Isolate" ready-to-mix) to its sports nutrition and lifestyle clients.