SPAIN – Mexican multinational food company, Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV has acquired Spain-based Amaritta Food SL, a company focused on the research and development and production of gluten-free bread.
The transaction was announced on Feb. 19 by Daniel Servitje, chairman and chief executive officer of Bimbo.
This acquisition will enable us to continue gaining know-how in this category and lever from this technology and capitalize it in the growth of that high-growth potential in that market,” Servitje said in a conference call with investment analysts in connection with the company’s fourth-quarter financial results.
“As the largest bakery company in the world, it is essential that we adapt to the demands of all our consumers, including those who have very specific needs.”
However, the terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Grupo Bimbo described Amaritta as having a “leadership” position in the gluten-free bakery category in Spain.
Based in Córdoba, Amaritta has 2,000 square metres of manufacturing space with the “capacity to manufacture 10m units of gluten-free product”, according to its website.
The company was established in 2020 and has been led by Maria Carmona Bejar, whose background includes 21 years at Inquiba SA, a consumer packaged foods company focused on detergent and beauty aids.
The acquisition is the latest of a series of steps Bimbo has taken to gain a stronghold in the gluten-free products space. In July 2023, the company announced a partnership with Zero Carb Co. (ZCC), a Dutch producer of gluten-free bread to expand ZCC’s distribution and production capabilities.
ZCC is a joint venture startup of baking company Bakker Wiltink and venture builder BOX NV. Earlier, Bimbo Ventures has investments in LiveKuna, a vertically integrated supplier of gluten-free snacks and pantry staples; and Rule Breaker Snacks, a maker of vegan, gluten-free, allergen-friendly snacks.
The company has yet to establish a major presence in the gluten-free bread market in the United States. Flowers Foods, Inc., the second largest US baking company behind Bimbo, has become the largest US player in gluten-free bread following its 2018 acquisition of Canyon Bakehouse.
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