International organization Bimbo allegedly acquires control over Romania's Karamolegos Pastry Shop
Graphing a New Territory: Grupo Bimbo's Fresh Acquisition
Breaking some fresh dough, Mexican heavyweight in the bakery universe, Grupo Bimbo, has set its sights on Romanian territory, snatching up Karamolegos Bakery Romania. This scrumptious nugget of news comes straight from Grupo Bimbo's Q1 2025 financial report, but the specifics of the transaction remain a mystery as of now.
Step back to late 2024, Grupo Bimbo's last bite-size acquisition happened with Slovenia's Don Don, expanding its reach to an impressive 39 countries.
Karamolegos Bakery Romania's financials for 2024 show a revenue of RON 35.5 million (EUR 7 million) and a net profit of RON 3.3 million (EUR 660,000). Since 2019, their revenues have consistently exceeded RON 30 million (EUR 6 million), while their profits have been growing steadily.
Before the bite, Bimbo made a significant move in Romania by taking over major Romanian bakery group Vel Pitar in 2023 for a reported EUR 200 million. The next year, Bimbo added six bakeries to its Romanian portfolio in a deal estimated at EUR 100 million.
Situated in Ilfov, Karamolegos Bakery Romania is a supplier of a wide range of package breads to the retail market. It's a family member of Greece-based Karamolegos Bakery KB, founded way back in 1950, with its Romanian subsidiary kicking off operations in 2009. Karamolegos' Ilfov factory covers 30,000 square meters and can produce around 50 tonnes daily.
Curious about the acquisition's impact on Grupo Bimbo's Romanian presence? The action boosts their market presence, giving them a well-established local brand to add to their portfolio. Financially, the exact impact remains undetermined. Grupo Bimbo's Q1 2025 financials showed a 10.8% year-over-year sales growth, reaching 103.73B pesos (approximately $5.3B), but net income dropped 26.6%, thanks to margin pressures, unrelated to this specific transaction.
Welcome to the family, Karamolegos Bakery Romania! Let's see what this merger bakes up!
(Photo credit: Arne9001/Dreamstime.com)
- Reportedly, Grupo Bimbo, a significant player in the bakery industry, has expanded its business to Romania by acquiring Karamolegos Bakery Romania.
- The food-and-drink sector witnessed a noteworthy movement in 2023, when Bimbo took over a major Romanian bakery group, Vel Pitar, for an estimated EUR 200 million.
- Last year, Bimbo made another substantial investment in Romania, acquiring six bakeries for a reported EUR 100 million, adding to its existing presence in the country.
- Karamolegos Bakery Romania, a supplier of packaged breads to the retail market, is a premium addition to Grupo Bimbo's portfolio following the acquisition.
- The acquisition of Karamolegos Bakery Romania is likely to enhance Grupo Bimbo's market presence in the country, providing them with a well-established local brand. However, the financial implications of this merger are yet to be determined.
