France-based agri-food investor Unigrains has recently made its second investment within a month, this time supporting Spanish ready-to-eat food manufacturer Ñaming. The announcement comes swiftly after Unigrains revealed its backing of the French dairy group Beillevaire.
This investment in Ñaming was executed through Unigrains Iberia, marking a significant step as the company actively seeks opportunities in the Iberian market since establishing its office in Madrid last year. This deal represents Unigrains’ inaugural investment in the region. However, the firm has not disclosed either the size of its stake in Ñaming or the amount invested.
In its statement, Unigrains emphasized that it would act as an “active minority shareholder” and provide support to Ñaming’s development, collaborating with the sandwich maker’s CEO, Jorge Miranda, and Italy’s DeA Capital Alternative Funds, who have held a majority stake since July.
DeA Capital had previously acquired majority control of Ñaming from Spain’s Talde Private Equity, a deal that was announced earlier this year. Unigrains has indicated that Ñaming plans to concentrate on “organic growth, product innovation, and the expansion of distribution channels.”
Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Mallén (Zaragoza), Ñaming employs approximately 350 individuals and reported a turnover of €40 million ($43.8 million) in its latest financial year. The company’s diverse portfolio of ready-to-eat items includes sandwiches, snacks, salads, wraps, yogurts, cut fruit, smoothies, and desserts.
Unigrains, which manages around €964 million in investments, envisions its Iberia division allocating between €80 million and €100 million over the next five years to finance companies within the agri-food sector.
Álvaro Hernández, CEO of Unigrains Iberia, stated, “We are convinced of Ñaming’s potential as a highly performing Spanish leader in a dynamic market segment. We will leverage Unigrains’ resources, know-how and added value approach to support Ñaming going forward.”
In addition, Jorge Miranda remarked, “Unigrains is currently a partner to more than 80 agri-food companies across Europe, and we have already identified several opportunities to explore together. I welcome Unigrains Iberia in the capital of our company and look forward to a strong collaboration around our common goals for our next stage of growth.”
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