Finnish food group Atria has secured a 25% stake in Cookin Food Sweden, a prominent player in the Swedish convenience food sector. This acquisition demonstrates Atria’s commitment to expanding its presence in the food and beverage industry.
Atria’s Swedish division is acquiring this minority share from Bite Delight, Cookin Food Sweden’s parent company, for an undisclosed amount. Notably, the arrangement includes an option for Atria to purchase the remaining shares of Bite Delight post-2028, as indicated in Atria’s statement.
This strategic initiative aligns with Atria’s ‘Together 2030’ strategy, emphasizing growth in high-demand product categories. As Atria CEO Kai Gyllström noted, “Convenience food is among the fastest-growing product categories,” and the company aims to capitalize on profitable expansion opportunities. To achieve this, Atria plans to allocate more investments toward growing segments like convenience food compared to other categories.
Founded in 2012, Cookin Food Sweden specializes in a range of products including salads, sandwiches, sushi, and savory pastries, catering to local retail customers as well as foodservice and travel service operators. The company reports an annual turnover of approximately €18 million ($21 million), reflecting its robust position in the food and drink business.
Jarmo Lindholm, executive vice president of Atria’s Swedish operations, emphasized that this investment represents “an excellent opportunity for Atria to expand into new, growing product categories and high-quality convenience food.”
Kristina Lukes, CEO of Cookin Food Sweden, remarked, “This marks an important milestone in our growth journey and is a strong validation of our offering.” With this collaboration, both companies aim to enhance their capabilities in delivering innovative solutions to both existing and new customers.
Additionally, Atria’s history includes acquiring the prepared foods manufacturer Gooh from Swedish agri-food group Lantmännen two years ago, further solidifying its footprint in the convenience food market.
Atria operates across three business units: Atria Finland, Atria Sweden, and Atria Denmark and Estonia, producing well-known brands such as Ridder Heims savory snacks and Sybilla cold cuts, along with brands like Maks & Moorits and Vastse-Kuuste in Denmark and Estonia that specialize in meat products.
This investment signifies Atria’s strategic maneuvering to adapt to current food and drink consumer trends, positioning itself favorably within the dynamic landscape of the food and beverage industry.
