Food Union ACQUIRES ROMANIA’s ICE CREAM PRODUCER

Latvia’s largest dairy company and the leading ice cream producer in the Baltic countries, Food Union, has signed an agreement on the acquisition of the second largest ice cream producer in Romainia, Alpin57Lux, expanding its business in Centraleastern Europe. With this acquisition, Food Union is adding Centraleastern Europe to its production platform and sales geography alongside the Baltics, Nordics, Russia, CIS countries and Far East. At the moment, Food Union Group already includes seven companies: Rīgas Piena Kombināts, Rīgas Piensaimnieks and Valmieras Piens in Latvia, Premia in Estonia, Premier Is in Denmark, Isbjørn Is in Norway, and Alpin57Lux in Romania.

“I am deeply impressed by the modern technology and infrastructure, as well as the product portfolio that Alpin57Lux has as a top Romanian ice-cream producer. It is a well-run business led by a strong family and team of professionals passionate about ice cream, pastry and bakery. That leaves me with utmost respect for their current and future commitment to Alpin57Lux development now within Food Union group of companies. Our experience in dairy and ice cream business, as well as regional positioning will help to ensure continuous prosperity of Alpin57Lux,” explains Food Union founder and owner Andrey Beskhmelnitskiy.

Alpin57Lux is a top ice cream producer in Romania, a family owned and 100% Romanian capital producer operating in a modern production facility in Sebes. The factory in Sebes is located on a new industrial platform, with modern production and warehousing facilities, with ice-cream-producing lines of the newest generation, using the Food Quality and Security Integrated Management System.

„In 1993 we started „from the grass”, having as an investment only the confidence and the support of the family. Today we produce day by day more than 80 tons of ice-cream, we own a bakery department, under the brand Romcherie, and the Maestro Alpin frozen vegetables. The performance of the Alpin57Lux team, of more than 450 employees was noticed by the strategic investor, who has a development project, which is according with our programs. I shall remain the company’s leader, but the following years will represent an even more upsurge, compared to what we have been able to do if we remained on our own accounts. The products that we have created with so much love, do deserve the financial support of Food Union,” added Ioan Istrate, General Manager and Minor Sharholder at Alpin57Lux.

Alpin57Lux focuses on ice cream production with product portfolio over 100 SKUs. Product portfolio also includes pastry and bakery (fresh and refridgerated). Alpin57Lux has its own logistic network, with a fleet of more than 250 vehicles and a national level distribution through own distribution network and other distributors. Company holds a strong market position with 20% market share and approximate turnover in 2015 up to EUR 18 million.

“The agreement on acquisition of Alpin57Lux Is has been signed and the deal will be closed in the closest months. Current owners Istrate family will continue managing Alpin57Lux business in Romania. Romania is a large, unconsolidated market, so as one of the main goals for Alpin57Lux will be to use Romania’s market opportunities to its full potential – increasing ice cream consumption, which at the moment is 2 litres per year, e.g. three times lower than Europe’s average,” adds Normunds Staņēvičs, Chairman of the Board at AS Rīgas Piena Kombināts (Food Union).