Azelis Establishes Position in Nordic Food Market with Acquisition of LCH A/S

16 Jun 2017 --- Azelis has announced the acquisition of leading Danish distributor of food ingredients and own blends, LCH A/S. By doing so, Azelis are establishing a leading position for themselves in the Nordic food distribution market.

Mainly dedicated to serving customers in Denmark, all 16 employees of LCH and its Turkish subsidiary Inno Gida will join Azelis.

LCH has a leading position in selling functional ingredients and own blends primarily to the Danish food industry and is a trusted partner of the largest bakery customers in Denmark. The company offers innovative products such as organic, preservative-free and protein-rich ingredients and mixes. Like Azelis, LCH strongly focusses on innovation and is committed to targeted product development, which allows rapid response to key market trends that drive growth in the bakery industry.

Geert Schnoor, LCH CEO spoke with FoodIngredientsFirst: “Within the Nordic bakery segment, where LCH plays a leading role, we note key market trends evolving towards organic, preservative-free and protein-rich ingredients and mixes, driving the growth in the market. Also, there is an increasing trend for gluten-free products and LCH has been successfully answering to this growing demand with specific products.” 

Anna Bertona, Azelis CEO EMEA, comments on the deal: “We are excited about this acquisition as LCH’s product portfolio is complementary to the current Azelis Nordic Food business. Together we will cover the main food applications markets, such as bakery, confectionery, ingredients and meat & fish. Furthermore, the acquisition of LCH immediately doubles the Azelis Nordic Food business, making us a leading food distributor in the region.” 

Gert Schnoor, LCH CEO, adds: “Azelis and LCH share the same values as well as a focus on innovation, value creation and growth through relationships with carefully selected partners. We are truly satisfied with the deal, since it clearly opens up new opportunities for the LCH team and will allow our business model to expand into new territories. We will become part of a larger, strong, international organisation that offers greater development opportunities on many fronts.” 

Schnoor will become the new Managing Director for the combined Azelis Nordic organisation. He replaces Mr. Andrew Johnson, who has successfully led Azelis Nordics for years and will now relocate to the UK.

The acquisition of LCH endorses the commitment of Azelis’ major shareholders – funds advised by Apax Partners – to support the business’s growth in the speciality food ingredients and chemical segment. Apax Partners is confident that this latest acquisition, following those made in 2015 and 2016, will bring significant benefits to customers of the combined Group.

by Elizabeth Green