Solina has acquired Zafron Foods from the Kenny family.
UK-based Zafron Foods is a second generation family business specialising in the manufacture of mayonnaise, sauces, condiments, dressings, chutneys and deli fillers.
Working out of two manufacturing sites with independent food safety accreditation from BRC, the company has become a leading provider of sauces to mid-sized food service chains.
Zafron Foods made its name through well-recognized brands such as Kenny’s, Zafron and Kromberg and now has a growing presence in the custom-made sauce sector.
Growth across all areas of the business has turned Zafron Foods into a 65-employee company with net sales of £23 million (€28 million). Making the business part of Solina’s sauce platform will unlock further growth opportunities and enhance its ability to foresee and address the evolving needs of customers.
The acquisition is part of Solina’s strategy to develop its product capabilities and portfolio, across dry seasonings, coating systems and custom-sauces, and a onestop-shop approach.
The strategy resulted in the recent launch of a sauce platform and the April 2022 acquisition of Sauces & Créations, a French producer of made-to-measure sauces. Solina’s expansion reflects the high growth of liquid solutions and sauces and the emergence of new channels for custom sauces.
“Quick Service Restaurants, Dark Kitchens and Home Meal Replacement are driving growth in the sauce sector, particularly in the highly developed UK Food Service market,” Anthony Francheterre, CEO of Solina, said.
“Yet, there remains a need for custom-sauce capacity and capabilities. Solina, with our culinary heritage, and Zafron Foods, with its complementary capabilities and channels, will address that unmet need while advancing our shared mission to make food matter for people and the planet.”
Jack Kenny, who will stay as a Managing Director of Zafron Foods with his management team after the deal, added: “We see Solina as the ideal partner to enable the next chapter in our growth story.
“With our access to Tier 1 customers in the UK as well as combining our sauces capabilities with Essential Cuisine sales network, we can create opportunities for Solina while benefiting from procurement synergies, cross-fertilization with other liquid solutions sites and their expertise in custom culinary solutions. We share Solina’s entrepreneurial values and look forward to our collaboration.”
