Aux Trois Cigognes Biscuiteries buys French peer La Mère Poulard

France-based biscuit maker Aux Trois Cigognes Biscuiteries has announced the acquisition of its local peer, La Mère Poulard.

La Mère Poulard produces butter biscuits such as shortbreads, galettes, and different cookies, including a type of French butter cookie, called Palets Bretons.

According to the company’s statement, the business’ products are exclusively marketed under the La Mère Poulard brand, and are available in France and more than 60 countries.

Aux Trois Cigognes Biscuiteries is a holding company that now owns three biscuit factories, Biscuiterie Tourniayre, founded in 1897, which produces cones and wafer cups for ice cream parlours, Biscuiterie Dutoit, a factory founded in 1951, that makes puff pastry and pie shells, and the new facility that makes butter biscuits.

Luc-Pierre Verquin, owner and president of Aux Trois Cigognes Biscuiteries, said in a statement shared on LinkedIn:

"Integrating Biscuiterie La Mère Poulard is a great opportunity for external growth, in line with my passion for quality food products, strong brands and teams committed to customer satisfaction."

“With my experience at Verquin Confiseur and recent acquisitions in the Hauts-de-France region, we will consolidate complementary expertise while preserving the teams and spirit of each company in their respective territories."

“This project is a continuation of my career. After more than fifteen years at the helm of Verquin Confiseur, [a confectionery producer] which I sold in 2017, I wanted to reconnect with the entrepreneurial adventure in the quality agri-food industry, around committed teams.”

According to the statement, Biscuiterie La Mère Poulard CEO Sébastien Pautrel, and other business executives will stay in their positions under the new ownership. Verquin said their commitment “will be essential to the success of this takeover”.

The company now has nearly 170 employees and “three complementary areas of expertise, which positions Aux Trois Cigognes as a key French player” said the business.

Léo Vannier, vice-president of Groupe La Mère Poulard, said: "This sale represents a clear strategic choice for our group."

“We can now devote ourselves fully to our primary mission: offering unforgettable tourist experiences at Mont Saint-Michel. We are delighted to have reached an agreement with a French buyer and wish the Aux Trois Cigognes group every success in continuing to develop these exceptional products."

The food maker said its ambition is “to develop these great companies sustainably by consolidating their know-how, while preserving the teams and the soul of each one in their expertise, for the satisfaction of our customers.”

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La Mère Poulard Group, founded in 1986, is a France-based hospitality group based in Mont-Saint-Michel in France. The company’s portfolio includes more than 25 tourist establishments. The business generates €30m in sales annually.

Aux Trois Cigognes is a holding company that’s owned by Luc-Pierre Verquin.

"Aux Trois Cigognes Biscuiteries buys French peer La Mère Poulard" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.

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