Greenyard has acquired the Belgian company Crème de la Crème, a food tech expert that develops, manufactures, and sells ice (gelato) products and frozen desserts, with a clear focus on the pure-plant category.
With this transaction, Greenyard acquires over 25 years of additional in-house experience in the production of dairy-free frozen desserts, such as frozen cups and ice on a stick.
The acquisition follows that of Italian pure-plant ice Gigi in the spring of 2023. It fits in Greenyard’s strategy to create a full range of healthy, pure-plant products for any moment of the day. The Greenyard Frozen division is leading this movement, with a new range of pure-plant frozen desserts and snacking products.
Francis Kint, CEO, Greenyard, said: “We are happy to integrate the Crème de la Crème team in the Greenyard family and strengthen our knowledge and production capacity in pure-plant ice manufacturing, right here in Belgium.
“We are convinced there will be a growing demand for delicious, healthy, pure-plant snacking and indulgent products. The business seamlessly integrates within Greenyard’s European-wide frozen logistic chain, and our global access to the largest retailers.”
Rik Zweegers, CEO of Crème de la Crème, said: “I’m happy that the business Ann-Catherine Nulens and I have created 25 years ago will grow within the Greenyard Group by benefiting from its global commercial contacts.
“At Crème de la Crème we feel the demand for pure-plant ice. With Greenyard, we’ll be able to reshuffle the world of frozen snacking, as both retailers and consumers are looking for the tasty and healthy options to create value.”