Sacmi Group extends its chocolate and packaging division with new acquisition

The Italian Sacmi Group has confirmed a key expansion of its chocolate and packaging division with the acquisition of Pack Sud, a specialist in equipment and technology for the bakery sector. Neill Barston reports.

As the firm noted, the move both extends its base of customers and complete its product portfolio, with the deal being for a 60% holding in the Bari-based company, which is an established manufacturer of vertical food packaging and wrapping machines.

The move follows Sacmi’s major investment into acquiring the Carle & Montanari-OPM and CM-Fima group of confectionery equipment businesses two years ago, which have retained their identity under the banner of their new owners.

Its latest acquisition further expands the company’s capabilities, with Pack Sud, founded in 2003, being a young, dynamic company bringing its unique vertical packaging design and marketing know-how to its new owners – including  having developed close ties with local companies in the bakery field.

This includes the traditional tarallifici and makers of other bread-derived products, on account of the design advantages of their versatile, low cost machines. Pack Sud presently employs fifteen people, with a turnover of  €2.5 million, with the business expected to shortly be completely under the ownership of its parent company. In addition, Sacmi has also recently acquired Pescara-based automated equipment firm Velomat join the group as part of an effort to diversify and expand its closures range.

As the business confirmed on its latest move, Pack Sud’s management team will remain in place to enable collaboration between the two companies’ technical and sales teams, as the business continues its global operations, offering vertical packaging and low-medium speed primary horizontal packaging machinery ranges.

Giovanni Campolungo, chief executive officer of Sacmi Packaging and Chocolate, said: “The takeover represents a further step in the implementation of a strategy that has the twin goals of product range completion and market diversification. Pack Sud will bring Sacmi exceptional, segment-specific expertise. This operation therefore completes us on both a technological level and in terms of target customers”. Furthermore, he added that as with other operations completed during the year, the aim is to seek out and enhance skills, bolster the know-how vital to business development and incorporate these strengths in the Sacmi Group’s global strategy.

Sharing his optimism, president of SACMI Imola, Paolo Mongardi, added:  “With its takeover of Pack Sud, Sacmi continues to pursue a strategy of growth on external lines too by acquiring companies with strategic skill and Italian expertise. Our goal remains attainment and enhancement of the skills and know-how needed to develop the business and promote high quality Italian products, strengths we aim to incorporate in the SACMI Group’s network and its global strategy”.

 

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