Bell Food acquires sandwich production business of ARYZTA Switzerland

Bell Food Group’s Hilcona has acquired ARYZTA Switzerland’s sandwich production business in Schlieren for an undisclosed sum.

Hilcona will assume ownership of all of the production premises and retain the 25 employees working at the facility.

From August, Hilcona will take charge of the sandwich production business in Schlieren to increase its production capacity of ultra-fresh sandwiches.

The deal will also help Hilcona to further expand its market position.

The combination of the newly acquired facility and Hilcona’s existing production site in Orbe (VD) with nearly 500 employees, will enable the company to meet the increasing demand for a wide range of freshly prepared craft sandwiches.

Bell Food Group CEO Lorenz Wyss said: “Freshly baked bread and the highest-quality ingredients are still the most important recipe for success.

“With proximity to the customer, innovation and traditional manufactory quality, we will stand out from our competitors in the growing market for ultra-fresh products.”

Last July, Bell Food Group decided to sell two facilities in Perbál, Hungary; and Saint-André, France; for an undisclosed sum.

Bell Food said that the sale of its low strategic value facilities is in line with its international charcuterie business restructuring strategy.

The company further added that the new owners have agreed to absorb all the employees working at the facilities.

Bell Food’s Perbál charcuterie facility is expected to be sold to Hungarian company Spar on 31 October.

With nearly 200 employees, the facility is said to have generated €20m in sales revenue each year.

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed by the company.