Just Food

IDAK Food subsidiary snaps up frozen-goods bakery Kern & Sammet

K&S has been operating for nearly 50 years, specialising in the production of bread, baked goods, desserts and snacks.

IDAK Food Group’s subsidiary Römer’s Hausbäckerei has acquired fellow Swiss bakery business Kern & Sammet for an undisclosed sum.

Wädenswil-based Kern & Sammet (K&S) has been operating for nearly 50 years, specialising in the production of bread, baked goods, desserts and snacks. The company employs around 100 staff.

Romer's Hausbäckerei, which specialises in frozen bakery products, bought K&S from its owner Hansjörg Knecht.

Commenting on the deal, Knecht said: “In terms of quality, innovation and Swissness, the two brands complement each other perfectly and the merger will increase their competitiveness in the Swiss food market."

Founded in 1974, Romer’s Hausbäckerei was acquired by IDAK in 2023. It supplies the foodservice, wholesale and retail channels.

IDAK CEO Christof Lehmann said: “The merger of K&S with Romer's enables the IDAK Food Group to take the next strategic growth steps in the frozen bakery goods segment.”

IDAK also owns Swiss potato-snacks business Kadi and Italy-based pizza supplier Margherita in Italy, acquired in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

In 2023, IDAK reported sales exceeding Sfr250m ($274.6m) and employed around 1,000 staff.

In July last year, TowerBrook Capital Partners, a London and New York-based investment firm, acquired a majority stake in IDAK from previous owners Invision and Nord Holding for an undisclosed sum.