Fornopronto acquires 100% of the share capital of Panificio Stefani Group

Fornopronto has launched an M&&A transaction involving theacquisition of 100% of the share capital of Panificio Stefani Group of San Lazzaro di Savena in the province of Bologna, which is active in the production of frozen bread for sliced bread and toast.

The transaction

The acquisition transaction, supported by acquisition financing of 9,5 million euros structured and provided by Banco Bpm, is intended to support Fornopronto’s expansion plan, with a view to diversifying and expanding the geographical markets it serves nationally.

Banco Bpm supported Fornopronto in structuring the transaction, making its specialist expertise available to support companies in their growth processes through external expansion.

The Apulian company

Fornopronto is an Apulian company based in Tricase, in the province of Lecce, founded 25 years ago on the initiative of Francesco Ricchiuto, following in the footsteps of his family’s experience in the sector. Today, the company is an important national player in the market for pre-baked and frozen bread and bakery products thanks to the variety of its specialities (Bread Line, Sourdough Line, Focaccia Line, Bakery Snacks Line, Sweet Products Line and Unbaked Line), mainly intended for the HoReCa and large-scale retail sectors. The Tricase production facilities extend over more than 4.500 sq m with a cold store with capacity for 2.400 pallet spaces and are equipped with a semi-automated warehouse.

The comments

“We are proud to support the development of an outstanding company in this area. Two years ago, we decided to open a new Business Centre in Lecce, and our aim is to play an increasingly leading role, alongside entrepreneurs, in the growth of the real economy in these areas,” stated Luca Mazzini, Head of the Central Southern Territorial Directorate at Banco Bpm. “I would like to thank Fornopronto for the trust it has placed in us and our entire team of professionals who made this transaction a success.”

“Through this transaction, Fornopronto aims to expand its distribution network throughout the country and integrate its production capacity, with the goal of achieving forecast turnover of more than 20 million. The transaction introduces important synergies within the company’s organisation: from optimising raw-material procurement and streamlining delivery logistics to integrating the sales network and sharing expertise in the processing of leavened products,” stated Francesco Ricchiuto, director of Fornopronto.

“We are pleased that the company’s future has been entrusted to a group that knows the bakery sector in depth and shares its values of quality, expertise and customer care,” stated the former partners Mazzoni and Fiorentini of Panificio Stefani. “Over the years, we have built a solid company thanks to the commitment of our people, the trust of our customers and our constant pursuit of excellence. We are convinced that the new ownership will know how to enhance this heritage, creating new opportunities for growth and development. We would like to thank all the employees, customers and suppliers who have contributed to our journey. We are certain that this transaction represents an important opportunity to further consolidate the company’s presence in the market.”

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.