One of the leading producers of frozen bakery products in Europe, with over 3,200 employees, a network of 14 production sites, and an annual revenue of approximately 930 million euros for the year ending June 30, 2024, Délifrance is a global B2B brand recognized for its high-quality products that embody the excellence of French bakery. Primarily present in Europe and Asia, serving modern distribution, foodservice operators, and traditional and artisanal bakeries, it is controlled by VIVESCIA Industries’ General Partner.
Vandemoortele, a Belgian family-run food group, is well known across Europe for its bakery product line, which has been on the market for nearly 50 years. With 3,500 employees and 28 production sites, its bakery division has an estimated revenue of 1.4 billion euros and offers a wide range of products under its own brands and private labels, with a presence in Europe and the United States.
A solid foundation: Vandemoortele and Délifrance
The strong expertise of Délifrance and Vandemoortele in the frozen bakery market will help the new group successfully navigate future challenges. By combining the strengths of both companies, the new entity will be able to offer its customers a comprehensive range of croissants and viennoiserie for breakfast, Danish pastries, artisanal bread, donuts, Italian focaccia and savory snacks, and pastry products, with leading brands such as Délifrance, Banquet d’Or, Doony’s, Lanterna, Acquaviva, and Lizzi.
This union will create a global player with revenue of approximately 2.4 billion euros, driving the future of frozen bakery products through international expansion, innovation, and value-added services and solutions for partners in modern distribution, retail, and foodservice, while introducing and accelerating ambitious sustainability plans.
“We are pleased to welcome Délifrance into the Vandemoortele family,” stated Jean Vandemoortele, Chairman of the Vandemoortele Group Board of Directors. “This is a historic partnership with a clear strategy and a strong alignment of cultures and expertise.”
Christoph Büren, Chairman of VIVESCIA and the SICOM Board of Directors, outlined the group’s ongoing transformation: “This decision by the VIVESCIA and SICOM Board aligns with the strategic discussions undertaken over the past 18 months as part of the VIVESCIA 2030 project. Our ambition is to work with our teams to write a new chapter in our history of growth, innovation, and sustainable value creation for agriculture and our cooperative entrepreneurs, for our plant and grain processing activities and their customers, for the Francine brand, and for its consumers. Beyond providing Délifrance with all the resources needed for its development and shaping the future of the frozen bakery market, this ambitious project creates the conditions for a valuable long-term partnership with the Vandemoortele Group.”
Yvon Guerin, CEO of Vandemoortele Group, added: “We respect the legacy and expertise that Délifrance represents. This union will allow us to create powerful synergies in terms of accelerated growth, customer service, product range, innovation, and branding. We will bring together talent from both sides and create new opportunities for all our employees. With a solid investment plan, we are confident in our ability to accelerate future growth.”
Robert O’Boyle, CEO of Délifrance, also commented on this exciting partnership and its future developments: “The transformation undertaken by Délifrance alongside management over the past four years, with the support of Vivescia and its governing bodies, has turned Délifrance into a strong player in the bakery market, with deep-rooted tradition and expertise, ready to support its customers in their growth journey. This exciting union with Vandemoortele, announced today, will enable us to invest together in our world-class teams and our shared values of product innovation and service excellence, supporting and accelerating growth through partnerships with our customers in Europe, Asia, and North America. We look forward to developing this next chapter in Délifrance’s story and embarking on a long and successful journey together in the years to come.”
The transaction, expected to be completed by the end of 2025, is subject to customary closing conditions, including informing and consulting employee representatives and obtaining approval from the relevant competition authorities.