Our deep industry knowledge, global perspective and relationships makes us a trusted advisor to many of the world’s leading consumer companies

Louise, founded by Laurent Menissez in 2010, is one of the leading artisanal bakery chains in France. Its sister company, Maison Menissez, is one of the leading industrial bakery businesses in France. Louise is a certified “Artisan Boulanger” with differentiated and compelling retail bakery operations. Louise has c.130 sites spread across France and makes c.90% of its products on-site using the artisanal know-how of its qualified bakers and raw materials that are sourced from local millers to guarantee quality.

‍

Teract is a major player in responsible distribution in the growing markets of gardening, pet shop and food retail. Through its subsidiary InVivo Retail, Teract brings together the gardening brands Gamm Vert, Jardiland, Delbard and Jardineries du Terroir, the food retail chains Frais d’Ici and Bio&Co food and the pet shop Noa. Teract’s majority shareholder is InVivo, one of Europe’s leading agricultural and agri-food groups.

‍

Teract is the outcome of the merger of InVivo Retail and listed SPAC vehicle 2MX Organic earlier this year.

‍

The partners’ plan is to continue to develop Louise through internal growth and external growth, by continuing to open Louise points of sale directly and under franchise and by setting up Louise stores in certain InVivo Retail banners.

Spayne Lindsay was appointed by EAT. to explore exit options, with the objective of maximising value on the back of management’s successful revitalisation of the brand and business. Following discussions with several UK and international strategic parties introduced by Spayne Lindsay, Pret emerged as the party with the strongest strategic fit, offering a great deal to EAT. stakeholders.

‍

This transaction enabled Spayne Lindsay once again to demonstrate its exceptional expertise and relationships in the international consumer sector and continue its successful track record in the ‘eating out’ space.

The Snowfox Group has established itself as a highly reputable global sushi platform, fulfilling increased consumer demand for Japanese food across its four distinct brands – Snowfox, Bento, Taiko and YO! in North America and the United Kingdom. The Group provides consumers with high quality, convenient and affordable Japanese food and operates approximately 3,000 chef-operated sushi kiosks and other restaurants in North America and the UK, as well as being a sushi manufacturer and wholesaler.

‍

Spayne Lindsay is pleased to have advised Mayfair Equity Partners LLP from start to finish of their investment journey, having advised on the initial acquisition of YO! Sushi, the UK‐focused sushi restaurant business known for its innovative conveyor belt and an iconic consumer brand in 2015, as well as the subsequent acquisitions of Bento Sushi (2017) and SNOWFOX® (JFE Franchising, Inc.) (2019) that formed key parts of the successful buy & build strategy, through to the ultimate exit to a highly strategic international trade buyer.

Founded in 2007 by Shaun Pulfrey, Tangle Teezer produces a range of innovative and tailored detangling, blow-drying and styling hairbrushes famous for their unique patented teeth technology. With record revenues of over £30m achieved in 2020 and presence in over 75 countries, the business has grown to become a world-renowned brand, recognised for creating the detangling haircare category, and is swiftly becoming an essential haircare companion to both consumers and haircare professionals. Tangle Teezer’s products are sold through well-established international online and multi-channel retailers with digital channels accounting for over 50% of sales today.

‍

Mayfair is partnering with James Vowles, CEO, and his team to support further product innovation and international expansion. Shaun will remain a minority shareholder in the business.

Spayne Lindsay is delighted to announce that it has advised Symprove, the scientifically-proven, direct-to-consumer brand disrupting the £35bn probiotics market, on the sale of a majority stake to bd-capital.

‍

Symprove is a liquid supplement containing live, active multi-strain bacteria.  Its patented delivery system allows the bacteria to “arrive, survive and thrive” in the gut, and has been recognised as uniquely effective by some of the world’s leading academics.

‍

Interest in how to improve gut health has grown exponentially in recent years, as advances in scientific research and medicine have continued to uncover how the diversity and balance of bacteria in the microbiome affects many conditions – not only gut conditions such as IBS and IBD, but also Parkinson’s and dementia, cardiovascular conditions, mood and mental health.

‍

Today, Symprove’s daily-use, subscription product is sold primarily through its direct-to-consumer website and is growing at more than 50% year-on-year through word-of-mouth and recommendations from doctors and nutritionists.

‍

bd-capital was carefully selected as Symprove’s new partner based on its operationally-led approach to partnering with businesses where changing patterns of consumer behavior and technology disruption create growth opportunities.

On 12 March 2021, our client, CVC Capital Partners Fund VII (“CVC”), a leading global private equity firm, announced that it had agreed to acquire, from Charterhouse Capital Partners (“Charterhouse”), Cooper Consumer Health, a leading European provider of consumer healthcare products across numerous market segments such as: calming and sleeping; vitamins and minerals; sun and skincare; and, footcare. The business supplies c.80,000 pharmacies and drugstores across Europe and has c.€500m revenues.

Founded by Mr. Louis François in 1908, Louis François is a family-owned French developer of specialty, functional ingredients for gourmet pastry, chocolate, confectionaries and ice-cream premium artisans, culinary experts and food manufacturers. Louis François offers a portfolio of 300+ functional products, serving a diversified client portfolio worldwide composed of artisans, chefs and food producers. The company currently operates 2 sites in France (Croissy-Beaubourg and Jouy-sur-Morin), employing about 30 people.

‍

Novax, a long-term investor and operating partner, is pleased to offer its commitment to together with the team build and expand Louis François over the years to come. Since Novax’ entry into specialty ingredients, marked by the inception of Novax Ingredients, they have been careful and selective in partnering with independent niche leaders with unique, competitive positions. Novax Ingredients is focused on developing clean, functional & sustainable ingredient solutions for the food industry, helping manufacturers solve process & development challenges through product reformulation – be it within improving nutritional profiles or enhancing overall product quality.

‍

Both Novax and Louis François see great mutual potential in collaborating – both companies are niche market leaders with specializations that complement another. Novax will further develop the Louis François brand in full respect of its heritage as prime supplier to the gastronomic sector, premium chefs and artisans.

Founded 50 years ago, Berry Gardens Growers Limited is the UK’s largest production group of berries and stone fruits. Established and run as a wholly owned UK grower co-operative, the business has a centralised service model that allows growers, from across the UK and overseas, to access the company’s proprietary R&D and focus solely on producing the best fruit possible.

‍

Berry Gardens has grown, distributed and marketed Driscoll’s varieties on an exclusive basis in the UK for more than 20 years. The sale of the commercial desk to Driscoll’s is the latest development in the longstanding relationship between the two businesses.

Founded in 1870 and headquartered in Norfolk, England, Anglia Maltings encompasses a diverse portfolio of businesses including Crisp Malt, Micronized Food Products (MFP), and EDME Food Ingredients.

‍

Anglia Maltings operates seven malt facilities in the UK, Poland, and Germany, with a combined capacity of 440,000MT. Crisp Malt collaborates with local farmers to source the highest-quality malted barley, serving breweries and distilleries and the food industry worldwide. MFP specialises in the production of cereals and pulses for brewing and animal feed, while EDME Food Ingredients focuses on malted and non-malted products catering to the baking industry.

‍

Given the growing global demand for malting barley, predominantly driven by the brewing and distilling industries, Richardson’s proven track record of strategic expansion and investment positions the company to meet the increasing requirements of an international customer base.

Di Marco is the inventor and the global leader in Pinsa Romana; a light, crunchy and highly digestible alternative to the Neapolitan pizza base. The product has been an exceptional success since its launch in 2001 with Pinsa Romana now being served in several thousands of “Pinserias”, bars, and restaurants in more than 40 countries worldwide.

‍

Di Marco’s products are widely recognised as the gold standard of Pinsa giving Di Marco a leading presence in the foodservice sector in Italy. More recently, it has launched in the grocery channel under the brand “Nuvola” which is growing rapidly in Italy and abroad.

‍

Abénex is a leading French mid-market international private equity firm, with c.€1.5bn of invested capital and more than 75 investments completed since inception, and this represents their first investment in the Italian market.

LCDD creates, produces, sells and distributes artisanal ice cream and premium frozen pastries to more than 23,000 food service clients across Europe, mainly in France, Spain and the UK. The company is a highly regarded player in the dessert market, with unique access to food service customers and praised for the quality of its products.

‍

In 2020, PAI Partners launched the €920 million PAI Mid-Market Fund which makes investments in leading mid-market companies across Europe. PAI MMF is highly distinctive in combining both a strong local presence and the ability to access PAI’s wider experience and international platform. LCDD is PAI MMF’s sixth investment after Amplitude Surgical, Angulas Aguinaga, MyFlower, Scrigno and Uvesco.

‍

This acquisition is Spayne Lindsay’s tenth transaction in the bakery and dessert sector in Europe and fifth in France over the last two years, underlining our unique sector expertise.

Founded in 2014 by two agricultural engineers, HARi&CO is a mission-driven company committed to leading the food transition toward plant-based protein with gourmet, healthy and innovative products. All of HARi&CO’s products are based around pulses (lentils, chickpeas and beans) and are organic, clean-label, additive free and 100% plant based. With more than 35 employees, HARi&CO is present in mass distribution in more than 5,000 stores, including the collective catering sector.

The super-premium plus segment of the rum category is in the early stages of premiumisation, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18% in Europe and 27% in the US between 2016-2021. Through the same period, Don Papa Rum consistently outperformed the market in Europe, delivering a 29% CAGR*.

‍

Launched in 2012 by entrepreneur Stephen Carroll, together with Manila-based AJ Garcia, Don Papa is currently available in 30 countries, with France, Germany, and Italy being its largest markets. Don Papa Rum has a unique flavour profile, highly distinctive packaging and an authentic brand story rooted in the unique and beautiful island of Negros Occidental — known locally as ‘Sugarlandia’.

‍

The rum is distilled in the Bago distillery on the island and aged on the island in American oak barrels. The combination of the local sugar cane, unique soil and climate and the oak barrel ageing in the hot tropical climate provides the foundation for Don Papa’s long, rich-textured finish, which carries flavours of vanilla, honey, and candied fruits.