A consortium of private equity firms has purchased a minority stake in Marbour, a leading French rice supplier. The financial specifics of the transaction remain undisclosed.
Backed by Cerea Partners, Société Générale Capital Partenaires, and BNP Paribas Développement, Marbour is poised to realign its focus towards the agri-food sector and the production of microwaveable ready meals. The firms’ investment is aimed at not only bolstering Marbour’s presence in Europe but also uncovering new opportunities in the North American market.
Significantly, this investment comes alongside a notable shift in Marbour’s senior management structure. Sébastien Bourdillon has succeeded his father, Jean Bourdillon, as chairman of the company. The Bourdillon family retains majority ownership, ensuring continuity in leadership and vision.
According to a statement from Cerea Partners, Marbour generates approximately €300 million ($333.5 million) in revenue and employs over 900 individuals globally. This financial backing will certainly aid Marbour in navigating current food and beverage industry trends.
Additionally, Marbour operates production facilities in multiple markets, including France, the UK, Italy, and Canada. These sites specialize in different products, with some dedicated to packaging pouches and others to processing dry rice. Marbour also owns subsidiaries such as Inariz in France and FEI Foods in Wales, which focus on manufacturing for various brands.
Just Food has reached out to Marbour for further insights regarding the recent investment. In a prior development, in 2019, Italic rice company Euricom acquired assets from Marbour located in Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland for an undisclosed amount. Following this sale, Marbour Foods saw its annual turnover nearly halved to around €180 million. A few months after, Marbour made a strategic acquisition of the French crisp manufacturer Sibell, which was operating under judicial administration since February.
As the company continues to adapt to evolving food and drink consumer trends, it remains a key player within the food and drink business landscape, leveraging its investments to capitalize on growth opportunities both locally and internationally.
