Nestle Strengthens Food Service Business in Scandinavia and Finland
Nestle Professional, the Nestle business that supplies the food service out-of-home industry, is strengthening its portfolio with a new acquisition in Scandinavia and Finland. The purchase of the stocks and sauces business Oscar from the Paulig Group will boost Nestle Professional’s presence in the ‘culinary flavours’ sector.
Oscar’s premium products and chef expertise will complement strong performers in the Nestle Professional food portfolio like Chef and Maggi. Closing of this agreement is expected to take place by the end of 2011.
Nestle Professional has achieved solid worldwide growth in 2011 with its innovative products and systems in both the beverages and the food parts of its business. Earlier this year the company invested Eur35 million to extend its Erlenbacher factory in Germany. It also opened a new Davigel Culinary Training and Expertise centre in France.
Nestle Professional’s super premium barista system Viaggi, launched first in France, is now being rolled out to other markets in Europe. And its premium Nescafe Milano beverage system has been introduced in North America and parts of Asia, in addition to recent launches in Europe.
Oscar produces its stocks and sauces at factories in Denmark and Finland. The new acquisition of this premium stocks and sauces operation gives Nestle Professional an opportunity to expand its out-of-home food business in Denmark and Finland where the Oscar brand is used widely, and further afield.
“This acquisition positions us as a strong leader in this premium category, complementing the presence of our Chef and Maggi brands,” says Marc Caira, chief executive of Nestle Professional. “Culinary flavour solutions is a growth category, with top level chefs increasingly interested in using manufactured ‘from scratch’ solutions.”
Globally, Nestle Professional is present in more than 90 countries – with over 10,000 employees, including a large number of skilled chefs. Nestle Professional sources from 171 Nestle factories worldwide and operates 13 dedicated food service factories, a number of specialist culinary centres, and a Beverage Centre located in Switzerland.
