Spain’s Reina Group acquires Vital Sandwiches

SPAIN – Spanish bakery and dessert company Reina Group has acquired local sandwich-maker Vital Sandwiches, with the financial terms of the transaction remaining undisclosed. 

In a statement, Reina Group said the deal allows it to further consolidate its position in the food sector by expanding its product portfolio and creating new lines of business.

The group, which chiefly caters to the retail channel with a finite presence in foodservice, added that the acquisition of Vital Sandwiches is part of a strategy to grow locally and internationally.

“The incorporation of Vital Sandwiches is a new exciting challenge, entering a new market for us. We are sure that our track record and know-how will provide a new vision and a great boost, which will allow us to reach new consumers,” said Alfonso López Rueda, the president of Reina Group.

The acquisition also provides Reina Group with a new production centre in Spain, adding to its already existing facilities in Portugal and the US. 

Founded in 1993, Vital Sandwiches operates out of a facility in Manzanares, Ciudad Real. It sells sandwiches labelled as Vital, Gastro, Brunch, and NOW! 

Reina Group, which houses brands such Postres Reina, Postres Montero, and Surivan Feel the Taste, is seeking to boost its presence in “ready-to-eat” products, a sector it said is growing at a rapid pace. Reina Group traces its roots to 1926 with the Reina family’s chocolate and nougat factory.

Expanding into bakery and festive sweets in 1960, the company then entered the dairy dessert market in 1970. Since then, they have been making their desserts with traditional recipes, introducing technology and innovation. Today they are among the main suppliers for retail and foodservice distribution in Spain and Portugal.

In recent years, the company has actively expanded through acquisitions. The most recent was the purchase of Tradición Casera, a Rioja-based company specialising in desserts and yogurts in September. 

In November 2022, Surivan Feel the Taste acquired Zukán’s line of semi-finished products, including syrups and sauces, targeting the pastry, ice cream, and hospitality sectors. 

In 2021, Reina Group acquired a majority stake in Condi Alimentar, a Lisbon-based family-owned producer of powdered desserts and gelatins.

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