Houlihan Lokey Advises CPK Group

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that CPK Group, a French confectionery and chocolate company, and a portfolio company of Eurazeo, has been acquired by the European holding company of Ferrara, a leading sugar candy company in the United States and Brazil. The financial terms of the deal are undisclosed.

Founded in 2017, CPK Group is built on a portfolio of strong and iconic candy and chocolate brands, including Lutti, Terry’s Chocolate, Carambar, Malabar, Poulain, Vichy pastilles, Kréma candies, and Suchard Rochers.

The heritage and timeless appeal of these brands have earned generations of loyal customers. The group’s ambition is to become the French reference in confectionery and chocolate, guided by its purpose: cultivating the joy of smiling.

CPK Group operates four production sites, all located in France: Bondues, Saint-Genest, Strasbourg, and Vichy. Its head office is based in Issy-les-Moulineaux, and the company employs more than 850 people.

For more than 115 years, Ferrara has been inspiring sweetness, and today, it is the leading sugar candy company in the United States and No. 2 in Brazil. Ferrara’s portfolio includes more than 30 brands beloved across generations, such as NERDS®, SweeTARTS®, Jelly Belly®, Laffy Taffy®, and in Brazil, Gomets, Deliket, and Disqueti by Dori. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero-affiliated company.

CPK Group will continue to operate as a stand-alone company with its main headquarters in France. It will be managed by Ferrara and led by current Chief Executive Officer Marc Auclair and his senior leadership team.

Houlihan Lokey acted as financial advisor to CPK Group. This deal represents another successful transaction for Houlihan Lokey in the confectionery industry—after having recently advised on the pending sale of Lakrids by Bulow, a premium, predominantly D2C confectionery brand, to IDG Capital, and the sale of Gubor, a German leading manufacturer of seasonal and year-round confectionery products, to Colian, amongst others. With more than 300 transactions announced since January 2021, Houlihan Lokey reinforces its global leadership in the consumer space.

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