Clearwater International advises Italcanditi on the acquisition of Comprital Group

Clearwater International has advised Italcanditi, a leading producer of fruit-based ingredients and creams on the acquisition of a 100% stake in the Comprital Group.

Founded in 1985 by Gianni Osti, Comprital Group produces a wide range of products through its plants in Settala (a 10,000m2 production unit) and Stainslawow in Poland, which are exported to over 70 countries. The product line consists of 35 lines of ice cream bases, pastes, creams, glazes, coatings and grains, toppings and frozen yoghurt. In 2019 the Group, composed of Comprital, La Preferita, Comprital Polska, Comprital Shanghai and Whey Cream with a recorded a turnover of over €27m.

Italcanditi was founded in 1963 and has been part of Investindustrial's portfolio since 2019. The business is the Italian and European leader in the production of fruit-based preparations, creams, preparations for yoghurt and ice cream, candied fruit, and marron glacé for the dairy industry and for industrial ice cream and pastry sectors. The company, based near Bergamo and present in over 50 countries, employs approximately 400 people and counts international groups among its primary customers.

Following Investindustrial's entry into the capital, Italcanditi has embarked upon a path of growth of external lines through a buy-and-build strategy in the food ingredients sector; initially acquiring a branch of a company active in the production of fruit-based preparations for yoghurt, followed by Prodotti Rubicone in September 2019, a producer of semi-finished products for the artisan ice cream sector, and Ortofrutticola del Mugello, a leader in the production and distribution of marron glacé in August 2020.

With the acquisition of Comprital Group, Italcanditi aims to strengthen its presence in the ever-expanding niche of the artisan ice cream market.