Nestlé and PAI to Create Joint Venture for Frozen Pizza in Europe

Nestlé and private equity firm PAI Partners have agreed to set up a joint venture for Nestlé’s frozen pizza business in Europe. Nestlé will retain a non-controlling stake with equal voting rights alongside PAI Partners. The transaction is subject to employee consultations and the approval of regulatory authorities and is expected to close in the second half of 2023. Financial details are not being disclosed.

Nestlé’s pizza business spans several countries across Europe, with an annual turnover of around CHF400m. Pizzas are currently distributed under the Wagner, Buitoni and Garden Gourmet brands, including in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands. Recently, Nestlé announced it plans to close its pizza production plant in Caudry, France. The company had temporarily suspended production at the plant in early March following a food safety incident in 2022.

The business will be headquartered in Germany. It will operate two manufacturing facilities, in Nonnweiler, Germany, and Benevento, Italy.

Marco Settembri, Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Officer Zone Europe at Nestlé, said: “We took a thorough look at our European pizza business and concluded that partnering with PAI provides the best platform to develop its full potential. Nestlé will remain invested in this business and participate in future growth and value creation as the joint venture continues to provide the very best pizza for consumers and retail partners.”

This partnership follows the creation of Froneri in 2016, a highly successful joint venture with PAI Partners. Today, Froneri is a global leader in ice cream.

The proposed partnership will only cover Nestlé’s frozen pizza business in Europe. Nestlé’s leading pizza business in the United States is not part of the scope and remains integral to Nestlé’s frozen food operations there.