European frozen bakery specialists merge
UK frozen bakery specialists Boulangeries de France and http://www.mantinga.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Mantingahave merged their businesses to create a company with a forecast £8m turnover and a client base of more than 2,000 customers.
Thierry Cacaly, managing director of the new company and joint founder of Boulangeries de France, said the newly-merged business enjoyed "an enviable list of synergies and efficiencies to be realised" and had "very complementary" product lines.
Boulangeries de France specialises in French breads and morning goods while Mantinga sources from artisan suppliers across Europe.
The new business will retain all 52 staff along with Mantinga's distribution hubs in Gloucester and Chester and the Boulangeries de France base in London. It intends to work closely with a select number of suppliers to maintain preferential distributor status and to ensure competitive pricing in the UK market.
"We will be maintaining both the Mantinga and Boulangeries de France brand and product identities whilst we develop a new combined brand that will provide a clearer representation of our vision and business purpose," added Steven Mackintosh, the founder of Mantinga and now commercial director of the combined business.
He said that Mantinga's bakery and coffee retail outlets would form part of this rebrand.
The new company is now 100% owned by the board of directors following the acquisition of Mantinga Retail by Boulangeries de France, which saw the departure of the Sameer Group as private equity investor and shareholder.
