Gimv to acquire La Comtoise in SBO

The business is currently owned by Céréa Partenaire, Unigrains and CEO Michel Vanhove. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Gimv's investment comes at a time when the company is doubling its production capacities to 24,000 tonnes a year. La Comtoise is keen to step up its growth with the development of new products, including cheese sauces.

The Belgian GP is aiming to support La Comtoise in its international expansion thanks to its network across the Benelux and DACH regions.

Previous funding
Industries & Finances Partenaires and Ouest Croissance first backed the business in 2007, and sold it to Céréa Partenaire and Unigrains in 2015. The acquisition saw the consortium acquire a majority stake, with Céréa drawing equity from Céréa Capital II.  

Company
Created in 1994 and based in Louhans, La Comtoise develops and supplies cheese products to industrial food processing groups, which are integrated into prepared foods such as breaded escalopes (cordons bleus), grilled ham and cheese sandwiches (croque-monsieur), sandwiches and hamburgers.

La Comtoise generates a turnover of around €33m and employs 37 people.

People
La Comtoise – Michel Vanhove (founder).
Gimv – Anne Caron (partner); Guillaume Bardy (principal).

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