Maison Duprez, a French biscuit and confectionery specialist, has secured investment from agri-food investor Unigrains.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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Unigrains has joined Maison Duprez’s managing family Finorpa and Société Générale Capital Partners (CP) to “support the development” of the company, the new shareholder said in a statement.
Maison Duprez manufactures and distributes biscuits and confectionery under regional brands including Eugène Blond, Confiserie Afchain and Isidore Penven.
The company supplies retail and foodservice customers, as well as selling through a network of stores.
Maison Duprez is majority-owned by Vincent Duprez and Sylvie Duprez and their children, employing approximately 180 people.
President and CEO Vincent Duprez said: “The complementarity of Unigrains with our historical partners, Finorpa and Société Générale CP, will add value to our growth projects.”
The company generates 80% of its turnover from proprietary brands and aims to achieve €45m in sales within five years.
Unigrains said Maison Duprez would “benefit from the support” of its “networks and sector expertise” to pursue “targeted external growth” strategies, particularly in other French regions.
The investment from Unigrains coincides with a project to invest in the production capacity of Maison Duprez’s Breton subsidiary, aiming to expand its product offerings with new regional items.
Unigrains investment manager Anabelle Gerbal said: “Unigrains shares the Duprez family’s deep commitment to promoting traditional biscuit and confectionery expertise.
“It is also, by extension, about supporting the transformation and added value of agriculture productions – wheat, sugar beets, milk – which are the foundation of our French gastronomic heritage.”
Last month, Unigrains acquired a minority stake in Savel Group, a family-owned poultry specialist.
Established in 1968 and located in Lannilis, in France’s Finistère department, Savel specialises in “niche” poultry, such as cockerel, guinea fowl, and slow-raised yellow chicken.
In September, the investor backed French dairy business Beillevaire Groupe.
