Ambienta invests in The Bridge, one of Europe’s leading plant-based food producers

Ambienta, a European asset manager focused on investments in environmental sustainability, has acquired a majority stake in The Bridge, a company specialising in the development and production of plant-based drinks and yoghurts.

The founding Negro Marcigaglia family will reinvest alongside Ambienta and will continue to play a key role in the company’s development.

The Bridge: a benchmark for plant-based products

Founded in 1994 and based in San Pietro Mussolino (Vicenza), The Bridge develops and produces drinks, yoghurts and other plant-based food products. Production is fully internalised and integrated, covering the entire manufacturing process from raw material extraction and UHT treatment through to final packaging: a model that enables the company to operate flexibly in response to the needs of a diverse customer base. The Bridge distributes its products across various international markets, generating 80% of its revenue outside Italy, both under its own brand and under third-party brands.

Plant-based alternatives to dairy products: a market worth 4,3 billion euros

The European market for plant-based alternatives to dairy products is worth 4,3 billion euros and is showing interesting growth rates, driven by evolving consumer preferences towards healthier and more sustainability-conscious diets. Ambienta has been studying the plant-based products sector since 2017, recognising its clear environmental contribution.

The agrifood sector is responsible for approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which approximately 60% is attributable to the production of animal-based foods, including feed, livestock farming and land use. In particular, cow’s milk has a significantly higher environmental impact per litre than plant-based alternatives: it generates approximately 3 times more emissions, requires up to 13 times more water and uses approximately 10 times more land. Replacing traditional dairy products with plant-based alternatives therefore makes it possible to significantly reduce emissions, water consumption and land use, generating substantial benefits for the environment.

Expansion prospects

In a relatively young and fragmented market, The Bridge is well positioned to further expand its business domestically and internationally, both organically and through targeted acquisitions. Ambienta will support the company in a growth journey aimed at making The Bridge one of the leading operators in the sector, leveraging its experience in supporting entrepreneurial businesses to accelerate their growth trajectories.

“The agri-food sector represents a critical juncture in the transition towards a more sustainable economy, and plant-based alternatives play an important role in this process. This second investment by the Ambienta Small Cap fund, just a few weeks after the first transaction, confirms our strategy: to make our expertise and network available to support companies that also fall within the small-cap end of our investment range, in order to seize growth opportunities in markets driven by environmental trends,” comments Francesco Lodrini, partner at Ambienta.

“Over the years, we have built a business founded on quality, innovation and respect for the environment. At Ambienta, we have found a partner with whom we share the same vision, capable of supporting and accelerating our expansion, strengthening the organisation and continuing to invest in innovation in order to seize the significant growth opportunities offered by the plant-based sector,” adds Paolo Negro Marcigaglia, shareholder of The Bridge.

Advisers

Ambienta was advised by Spayne Lindsay, Finerre, Bcg, Advant Nctm and Kpmg. The Bridge was advised by Livingstone Partners and Baker McKenzie.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.