French group Menissez expands its presence in the United Kingdom after the acquisition of The Jones Village Bakery

 

by Leila Lamnaouer

"For years, my family and I have wanted to invest in the UK to be closer to our customers and offer them more support and services, in line with our CSR approach (which allows a company to set up projects and initiatives that are part of social and environmental concerns, editor's note) and international development. Investing in The Jones Village Bakery is a unique opportunity to get closer to the best bakery in the UK," commented Laurent Menissez. The boss of the Menissez Group, located in Feignies in northern France, announced in July that he had bought the shares of Limerston Capital, which had invested in 2021 in the bakery group The Jones Village Bakery, founded in 1934 and based in Wrexham in Wales.

After Canada and the Netherlands, a stronger presence in the United Kingdom

The Jones Village Bakery Group operates on six state-of-the-art production sites (including a new 'super bakery' of over 1,300 square metres) in Wrexham and Minera, enabling it to supply major retail chains, including Marks and Spencer, catering and food service in the UK and a few export countries. As of 30 September 2023, the company had a turnover of around £100 million and has around 900 employees.

This acquisition is therefore a major step in the international development of the French bakery group, which already has partnerships with Boulart in Canada, Délice de France in the United Kingdom, Van Roy in the Netherlands and Lemarié Patissier in France. The Menissez Group, founded in 1965 and owned by Laurent Menissez and his family, is also already established in France, with a turnover of 600 million euros and having become over the last 60 years, one of the main industrial bakers in the world, "with products adapted to its customers (bake off,  in the atmosphere and fresh products)".

Increase production capacity

If the choice of the investment company Limerston was directed towards the French group, it is "because of the similar DNA of the two companies and families, thus guaranteeing the integrity of the company in the future". "The Menissez Group and The Jones Village Bakery Group share common family values and a long-term development plan, both in the UK and internationally," the press release announcing the acquisition reads, "which will allow them to offer their respective customers an expanded and unique range of high value-added bakery products.". Jones Village Bakery will continue, the document continues, "to grow under the leadership of its management team led by Robin and Christien Jones, Simon Thorpe and Lesley Arnot, while remaining true to its family values and commitment to customer service." Investments have been made to "accompany (the) next phase of growth and support a gradual transition".

The Menissez Group promises to enable The Jones Village Bakery to "achieve its ambitious objectives while maintaining its identity, its teams, and pursuing a unique strategy in premium bakery products in the UK". And conversely, this acquisition will allow the French company "to increase its production capacity in the United Kingdom, diversify its portfolio of products and customers and strengthen its presence in the country".