Orkla Food Ingredients acquires FDE

Orkla Food Ingredients AS («OFI») has signed and completed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Freunde der Erfrischung GmbH (“FDE”) from its current owner.

FDE was founded in 2004 and supplies sugar-free slush syrups, slush machines, and other products such as disposables and spare parts to customers operating in the amusement and quick serving restaurant channels. Under the ownership of Andreas Sahlke, the company has developed into one of the leading players within its niche category in Germany, recording revenues of EUR 5.7 million in 2023. FDE is based in Bremen and has 18 employees.

“FDE operates in categories we are familiar with and serves customer segments we know well. Andreas and his team have done a tremendous job in developing the company and we are looking forward to supporting FDE to create an even stronger foundation to grow further in collaboration with the Nic Group,” says Nic Group Business Development Director Carl Diepenbroek.

“With dedicated employees in all functions, we have developed FDE into a strong category player with a broad and satisfied customer base. I am very glad to have Nic Group, with their growth and development mindset, on board as a new owner which will offer our employees reliability and strong opportunities for personal development,” says FDE owner and Managing Director Andreas Sahlke.

During the past few years, Andreas Sahlke and Karsten Demske have jointly managed the company as managing directors. Going forward, Kasten Demske will lead the company as the CEO. OFI is very grateful that Andreas will continue in the company for a transitional phase.

The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

About Orkla Food Ingredients

Orkla Food Ingredients (“OFI”) supplies ingredients to a broad range of customers in the bakery, ice cream and plant-based markets, and has a leading position in Europe and a platform for growth in the USA. Important sales channels include industrial manufacturers that chiefly manufacture and supply products to the grocery channel, the Out of Home channel, for example through artisanal bakeries and ice cream kiosks, and direct sales to consumers. The biggest product categories are bread and cake improvers and mixes, yeast, marzipan, ice cream ingredients and margarine and butter blends.

About Nic Group

Nic Group (“Nic”) is one of eleven business units in OFI and is the leading ice cream ingredients and accessories player in Europe, with strong market positions in the Nordics, Benelux, UK and Germany. Nic has a one-stop-shop business model and supplies their customers with categories such as sprinkles, waffles, non-food, soft ice, slush and gelato.