14 Jun 2010 --- Groep Vandemoortele has concluded an agreement to take over the margarine and frying fats activities from Dutch company Van Dijk Food Products. Van Dijk Food Products is part of the EFS Group BV. This agreement still is subject to the approval of the competent competition authorities.

The margarine and frying fats activities of Van Dijk Food Products, located in Zeewolde (The Netherlands) produced in 2009 a turnover of about 138 Mio Euro and employed around 145 workers.  Van Dijk Food Products owns the well-known Diamant en Gouda's Glorie brands and is also an important producer of margarines and frying fats under private labels for both  retail and food services. 80% of Van Dijk Food Products’ turnover is realised in The Netherlands.

Groep Vandemoortele is a European Food Group specialised in the production and sales of both margarines and frying fats as well as deepfreeze bakery products for retail, professional and industrial clients. The Group realises, with 5000 employees, a turnover of 1.100 Mio Euro, of which 450 Mio Euro in margarines and fats.

EFS Group B.V. is the property of its management and Bencis Capital Partners. Bencis Capital Management is an independent private equity company that acquires participations in middle-sized companies in the Benelux.

Vandemoortele consolidates its position in its key activity margarines and fats

“Groep Vandemoortele pursues with this move a next step into its strategy aimed at focusing on further growth of its two main activities, namely margarine and frying fats on one side, and deepfreeze bakery products on the other side. Thanks to the acquisition of the Van Dijk Food Products margarine and frying fat lines of business, the Groep Vandemoortele is able to consolidate its Dutch and European position in the first key activity. Scale size at production level  and joining forces in sales are the main trumps of this winning combination" comments Jean Vandemoortele, Groep Vandemoortele’s CEO.

Edwin Waijenberg, CEO of EFS Group says: “Van Dijk Food Products has had a good partnership with Bencis Capital Partners in the past years and is convinced that the acquisition by Vandemoortele will reinforce the continuity of the Zeewolde location as well as the international market position of private labels.”