Clearwater advises Evoco and BNP Paribas Développement on its divestment of Cepasco, a French leader in herbs and spices

Transaction

Cepasco, French leader in the herbs and spices market, has been acquired by Haudecoeur, French leader in the procurement, production and distribution of ethnic food

Sell-side

Undisclosed

Role

Adviser to the shareholders of Cepasco on its sale to Haudecoeur

Sector

Food & Beverage

Region

France & Belgium

We have advised the shareholders of Cepasco, formerly majority-owned by Evoco, a private equity firm based in Zurich, on its sale to Haudecoeur, the French leader in the procurement, production, and distribution of ethnic food, and backed by Apheon and the founding Haudecoeur family.

Located in southern France, Cepasco is the leading supplier of herbs and spices to the French traditional retail market, with a turnover of €25m. The company distributes a comprehensive range of herbs and spices through four complementary and iconic brands: Espig, Spigol, La Planète des Epices, and Flavori, across France and other parts of Europe.

Through this strategic combination, Haudecoeur and Cepasco are strengthening their leading position in the herbs and spices market. The combined group will generate a turnover of €280m, with a particularly strong presence in France and Belgium, which is a new key market for Haudecoeur.

Having significantly contributed to Cepasco’s growth alongside the management team, we are pleased to sell our stake to Haudecoeur. This merger will enable Cepasco to continue its expansion and enhance its product offering, supported by Haudecoeur’s robust sales force and distribution network.
Maximilien Job, Evoco

Both the seller and buyer have delivered an attractive transaction, in the best interest of all stakeholders.
Felix Ackerman, Evoco

We are delighted to welcome Cepasco into the Haudecoeur Group. This acquisition will strengthen our position in the herbs and spices market and consolidate our leadership in France, enhancing our ability to serve customers with an expanded product range. We have identified significant synergies and strategic advantages in this acquisition, and we look forward to working with the Cepasco team.
Jean-Jacques Caspari, CEO, Haudecoeur

Cepasco and Haudecoeur are two pieces of the same puzzle. The two companies complement each other perfectly, both in terms of product positioning and distribution channels. The new entity will undoubtedly ensure a new phase of value creation while securing a long-term future for the teams.
Clearwater

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