Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI), a subsidiary of Norwegian conglomerate Orkla Brands, has acquired Kobo, a Poland-based bakery and confectionery ingredients company, for an undisclosed amount.
Orkla Food will take over 100% of the shares in the Polish company, with effect from 2 April 2012, from its founder Kochanczyk family.
Founded in 1988, Kobo is involved in sales and distribution of bakery and confectionery ingredients with a main focus on artisan bakery segment.
The company is located in the city of Nisko in the southeastern region of Poland, and posted a turnover of about €4.4m in 2011.
Credin Group, a part of Orkla Food Ingredients, CEO Vitor Silva said the new acquisition is in line with the company's growth strategy and enlarges its market position in this region.
"Together with Merkur, bought in 2010, and Sebmag, acquired in February 2012, Kobo will further strengthen our sales and distribution organisation in Poland," Silva added.
Following the acquisition, Silva will take the role of the chairman of the board, while Dariusz Dzik of Orkla will become the managing director of Kobo.
This month, OFI has also acquired 100% shares in Food Distribution Services (FDS), which is also a sales and distribution company of bakery ingredients, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania.
In addition, Orkla Food Ingredients has announced the purchase of the Netherlands-based Sonneveld Group, a company focused on bread improvers, mixes and release agents.
Based in Oslo, Norway, Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI) is a bakery ingredients industry major engaged in the production and supply of baking ingredients, and operates in 19 countries.
Its product portfolio comprises bread ingredients and release agents, marzipans, margarines, powder and fat-based mixes, serving bakery, confectionery, retail, and food industries in Norway and globally.
