Swiss bakery group Aryzta is expanding its reach in Europe with a significant €40 million ($46.8 million) investment in Portugal. This strategic move aligns with current trends in the food and beverage industry, as companies seek to optimize their supply chains and enhance customer service.
Aryzta plans to establish a bun manufacturing facility near Lisbon, with construction expected to commence this year and full operational capacity anticipated by 2028. This new plant will complement Aryzta’s existing bun bakery in Spain, thereby streamlining operations across the Iberian Peninsula and contributing to reduced carbon footprints in manufacturing. In a trading update preceding its final 2025 results scheduled for March 2, the company emphasized the benefits of this investment.
The Portugal site primarily aims to supply quick-service restaurants (QSR), a sector that has seen consistent growth reflective of emerging food and drink consumer trends. Currently, Aryzta is a supplier to well-known fast-food chains, including McDonald’s; however, the spokesperson did not disclose the specific end customers for this new facility.
Under the leadership of interim CEO and chairman Urs Jordi, Aryzta has taken decisive steps to reposition for profitable growth heading into 2026. The company began a series of asset sales to mitigate its debt burden starting in 2020. Following the departure of previous CEO Kevin Toland that year, Michael Schai assumed leadership but stepped down unexpectedly in October.
The asset disposals included the sale of its North American take-and-bake pizza business to Brynwood Partners at the end of 2020, along with Aryzta’s exit from the frozen food retailer Picard in 2021. Additionally, Bell Food Group acquired Aryzta’s Hilcona sandwich business, while Grupo Bimbo purchased its Brazil assets.
With Schai’s leadership focused on resizing the business and emphasizing organic growth, Aryzta anticipates continued positive performance, despite a subdued consumer environment. The company attributes this optimism to completed negotiations with key customers and the gradual activation of new production lines in Germany, Malaysia, and Switzerland.
In its latest trading update, Aryzta confirmed that a new production line in Malaysia became operational in the last quarter of fiscal 2024, and a swiss line in Dagmersellen started functioning in the second quarter of 2025. Furthermore, a new artisanal bakery line was introduced in Germany during the third quarter of 2025.
Aryzta projects mid-single-digit organic growth for the current year, alongside an EBITDA above €305 million. In 2024, revenue stood at €2.2 billion, reflecting a slight organic sales decline of 0.2%, though reported sales rose by 0.1%. EBITDA experienced a 5.4% increase to €320.9 million, while net profit rose to €129.6 million from €125.7 million the previous year.
The company’s group-wide efficiency initiatives indicate tangible progress toward reducing costs and optimizing the fixed cost structure, which are vital for enhanced business performance. Chairman and acting CEO Jordi noted the resilient performance in 2025. He highlighted management’s recent actions aimed at accelerating revenue growth and restructuring for success.
“These measures reposition the business to deliver further growth and improved performance in 2026,” he stated. “We continue to invest selectively in growth, as evident in the new investment in Portugal, which reflects the company’s strong track record in meeting customer needs.”
This expansion marks Aryzta’s commitment to staying relevant in the evolving food and drink business landscape. By focusing on efficiency and growth, they are well-positioned to adapt to prevailing food and beverage industry trends.
