Belgium-based Greenyard has recently disclosed its acquisition of Crème de la Crème, a prominent producer of dairy-free ice creams and plant-based frozen snacks. This strategic move underscores Greenyard’s commitment to diversifying its frozen portfolio, following its acquisition of Italian firm Gigi in spring 2023.
The incorporation of Crème de la Crème into Greenyard’s fold brings over 25 years of expertise in crafting dairy-free frozen desserts and snacks in-house. Francis Kint, Chief Executive of Greenyard, expressed enthusiasm about this development, stating, “We are pleased to welcome the Crème de la Crème team into the Greenyard family, enhancing our knowledge and production capacity in pure-plant ice manufacturing right here in Belgium.” Kint emphasized the growing demand for wholesome, plant-based snacking options and highlighted the seamless integration of Crème de la Crème within Greenyard’s extensive European frozen logistic chain.
Greenyard aims to revolutionize the frozen snack category through its recent acquisitions, seeking to ‘accelerate and disrupt’ the market dynamics. With the frozen snacking category projected to witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.2% until 2030, Greenyard is poised to capitalize on this trend. The company identified the increasing prevalence of lactose intolerance and gluten-free dietary preferences as key drivers propelling the demand for innovative products, positioning itself to cater to evolving consumer needs.
Rik Zweegers, CEO of Crème de la Crème, expressed satisfaction with the acquisition, anticipating growth opportunities within the Greenyard Group. Zweegers highlighted the demand for pure-plant ice and emphasized the potential for reshaping the frozen snacking landscape in collaboration with Greenyard. He remarked, “With Greenyard, we’ll be able to reshuffle the world of frozen snacking, as both retailers and consumers are seeking tasty and healthy options to create value.”
As Greenyard ventures into this new phase of expansion, the acquisition of Crème de la Crème signifies a strategic move towards innovation and market leadership in the burgeoning dairy-free and plant-based frozen snack segment.
