Mondelēz cements cookie and cracker footprint down under with Gourmet Food Holdings acquisition
Gourmet Food’s brands – which include OB finest, Olina’s Bakehouse and Crispbic – are category leaders in the crackers and biscuits category in Australia and New Zealand, notably setting trend innovations specifically within the health and wellbeing segments.
“With fast-growing premium and wellbeing products, strong customer relationships and agile, local manufacturing, these brands will be a great complement to our local portfolio,” said Maurizio Brusadelli, Mondelēz International’s EVP and president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions.
Gourmet Foods’ co-founder and CEO Todd Wilson will remain with the business as an advisor, while its chief operating officer Oliver Flint has been promoted to MD. Mondelēz said it will provide Gourmet Food with resources to accelerate growth, while leveraging its manufacturing, research and development capabilities.
This is the latest move by the US multinational company to strength its better-for-you snack portfolio. In January, Mondelēz acquired Hu Master Holdings, maker of organic, Paleo and vegan chocolate guilt-free treats, while a year earlier, it snapped up a majority share of Give & Go, a North American leader in fully-finished sweet baked goods and owner of the two-bite brand of brownies and Create-A-Treat cookie and gingerbread house decorating kits.
In July 2019, it acquired a minority stake in Perfect Snacks – a leader in the fast-growing refrigerated nutrition bars space with its refrigerated protein bars as well as organic, non-GMO, nut-butter-based protein bars and bites.
Included in Gourmet Food transaction is its pre-packaged seafood business.
The transaction is expected to close in April.
“This is a great strategic asset for us in a very important market,” said Dirk Van de Put, chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International. “With our iconic biscuit brands such as Oreo and belVita, as well as our leadership in chocolate with Cadbury, this acquisition will accelerate our broader snacking leadership in Australia and New Zealand.”
