Italian Group Bf sells control Of Couscous Firm Bia

Credit: Claudio Divizia/Shutterstock.com

Italian agribusiness group BF has agreed to waste a controlling liking successful its couscous business Bia to private-equity firms PM&Partners and Armònia.

Financial position of nan transaction were not disclosed.  

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In a connection connected LinkedIn, PM&Partners said nan investment aims to “accelerate Bia’s maturation trajectory done outer improvement opportunities, leveraging its beardown customer guidelines some successful Italy and abroad”. 

Bia is presently held by BF Agroindustriale, which is controlled by BF, alongside Ocrim – Società per l’Industria Meccanica and Investimenti Industriali.  

Following completion of nan deal, BF AgroIndustriale and Investimenti Industriali will reinvest and retain holdings of astir 10% and 5% of Bia’s stock capital, respectively, BF said successful a abstracted statement.  

BF said it acquired Bia successful 2022 arsenic portion of a wider scheme to “develop an integrated atom hub aimed astatine consolidating control” complete nan Italian nutrient proviso chain.  

Under its ownership, Bia’s revenues roseate from astir €33m ($37.9m) in 2021 to €48m successful 2024, pinch EBITDA of astir €7m, supported by accrued accumulation capacity, introduction into caller markets and channels, and a displacement towards higher value-added products, Milan-listed BF added.  

Federico Vecchioni, chairman of BF, said: “We are proud to invited qualified investors specified as PM&Partners and Armònia into Bia’s stock capital, which will foster Bia’s consolidation arsenic a leader successful couscous accumulation and trading and, astatine nan aforesaid time, alteration nan BF Group to proceed investing successful strategical nutrient proviso chains pinch nan champion margins done further M&A transactions.” 

Bia focuses connected private-label couscous and has “recognised leadership” in Italy, France and Spain, with “strong positioning” in gluten-free and integrated ranges, PM&Partners noted successful its LinkedIn post.  

According to its website, Bia produces couscous astatine 3 accommodation successful Argenta town in nan state of Ferrara, 1 of which is dedicated wholly to gluten-free products.  

It has an yearly accumulation capacity of 54 million kilograms and packages much than 24 cardinal cases a year. 

Bia also manufactures and packs couscous nether its namesake brand.

Beyond Bia, BF’s portfolio includes Le Stagioni d’Italia, offering Italian pantry staples; Zorzi, known for dried legumes and cereals; and Fabianelli, a shaper of premium pasta. 

BF reported consolidated revenue in 2024 roseate 8.5% to €1.5bn from 2023.  

EBIT accrued to €46m, a emergence of roughly 53% from nan anterior year, while nett profit was €13m versus €4m.