Cérélia acquires pancakes and waffles maker US Waffle

Fresh and ready-to-bake dough solutions provider Cérélia has acquired US Waffle for an undisclosed sum.

Established in 2013, South Carolina-based US Waffle is engaged in the production of pancakes and waffles.

The company claims that its products are manufactured using fresh ingredients that offer both nutrition and quality.

Cérélia co-CEO Walter Kluit said: “We are thrilled to welcome US Waffle to Cérélia. With a proven track record of innovation and quality, we are confident that US Waffle will accelerate our expansion in North America.

“By leveraging Cérélia’s entrepreneurial spirit, industrial technology, and experienced team, we plan to introduce new, innovative products and extend our presence in new channels and territories.

“Following years of dialogue, we are confident that our new partnership with the US Waffle team will enhance the service for our clients and win the hearts of many more consumers with our quality pancakes and waffles.”

Cérélia also recently acquired Wewalka’s North American pizza dough business and built a new facility in Ohio to accommodate the growth of its existing products.

With these acquisitions and new production and distribution capabilities, Cérélia is positioned as one of North America’s fastest-growing bakery businesses.

Concurrently, Ardian-backed Cérélia has received a strategic equity investment from Continental Grain Company (CGC).

CGC chairman and CEO Paul Fribourg said: “We are very excited to join Guillaume, Walter, Ardian and, most importantly, the whole Cérélia team as strategic investors and partners in the company. We have been very impressed watching the team, with Ardian’s assistance, grow the business over the last two years in both Europe and North America.

“We believe that Cérélia has developed an excellent platform on which to continue its remarkable growth and we look forward to supporting the company in executing its strategic vision.”

Following the investment, CGC director Charles Fribourg will join the Cérélia Supervisory Board as an observer.