Houlihan Lokey Advises European Convenience Food

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that European Convenience Food (ECF), one of Germany’s leading frozen food manufacturers, has been acquired by Lambert Dodard Chancereul Group (LDC). The transaction was completed on 29 November 2024.

Founded in 2014 through the merger of Karl Kemper Convenience and Eichkamp, ECF is a leading producer of high-quality frozen food products for the German foodservice sector. The company operates under the brands Vegeta and Karl Kemper, with a strong focus on the fast-growing vegetarian food segment. In addition, ECF offers customised product solutions tailored to client needs.

Since 2020, ECF has achieved substantial growth, driven by the continuous expansion of its vegetarian product range, resulting in a significant increase in profitability. The company operates a highly automated and well-invested production facility, positioning it perfectly to capitalise on the growing demand for vegetarian food solutions and future expansion opportunities.

LDC is a family-owned French agri-food company specialising in the processing and sales of poultry as well as in the development of fresh and frozen ready-meal products. With 102 sites, 25,000 employees, and a turnover of 6.2 billion euros, the LDC group is one of the European leaders in poultry, with a presence in France, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. The company is listed on the stock exchange in Paris and is experiencing sustainable, balanced, and controlled development based on organic growth and acquisitions in Europe.

This acquisition aligns with LDC’s strategic objective of international expansion while entering into the promising segment of frozen poultry and vegetable/plant-based products in Germany, Europe’s largest food market.

Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to ECF’s shareholders, guiding them throughout the transaction.

This transaction further strengthens Houlihan Lokey’s expertise in the frozen food sector, following the sale of Hofmanns to Compass Group in late 2023, and further strengthens our strong track record of cross-border transactions.

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