Founder Boboli and management partner with Gilde to facilitate future growth

Bunschoten-Spakenburg, February 2017 – Boboli’s founder Richard Hop and management welcome Gilde Equity Management (GEM) Benelux (“Gilde”) as growth partner. Boboli, producer of focaccia specialty breads and artisanal Mediterranean savory snacks, has ambitious growth plans and has recently started the construction of a third bakery.

The partnership allows Boboli to leverage on Gilde’s capital and extensive experience in the bakery industry to accelerate growth. Founder Richard Hop will return in his role as director to lead Boboli in the next phase of growth together with commercial director Theo de Graaf.

Boboli, originally founded in 1999 and based in Bunschoten-Spakenburg, produces focaccia specialty breads and artisanal Mediterranean savory snacks. Boboli realizes more than EUR 60 million in sales and bakes over 75 million products per year and employs ca. 325 FTE. The company’s customers include leading retailers, discounters and foodservice companies located in North-western Europe and in the US. Boboli’s hand-shaped frozen bake-off products are used by in-store bakeries for on-the-go consumption and its chilled bake-off products are sold for consumption at home. The company benefits from numerous supportive food and retail trends including premiumization, snacking and on-the-go convenience. Boboli continuously invests in product innovations and develops new products in close cooperation with its customers.

In order to further build the unique position of the company, Richard Hop, management and Gilde aim to invest in the international expansion of the business. To facilitate expansion, the first step has already been taken as the construction of the third bakery has started. With Gilde as new shareholder, the company found a financial partner to look forward with to the next stage of international growth.

Since its inception in 1982, Gilde has gained extensive experience supporting successful companies in the bakery and food industry. Examples of current and previous portfolio companies in the industry include Pré Pain, Grand Duet, Banketgroep, Bakker Bart, Peijnenburg, Johma and Ad van Geloven.