BC Partners has sold Italian frozen pastry and bakery products maker Forno d'Asolo to Investindustrial and the Bagnoli family, owners of the Sammontana gelato brand.
The merger of Forno d’Asolo and Sammontana will bring together two complementary companies, creating one of the leading international manufacturers of frozen pastries, desserts, and gelato.
The Bagnoli family, Investindustrial, and the management team will own 100% of the new group. Leonardo Bagnoli, CEO of Sammontana, will become chairperson, while Alessandro Angelon, CEO of Forno d’Asolo, will become CEO of the combined businesses.
The merged group generates almost €1 billion in revenue with production facilities across Italy, the United States, and France, and over 2,500 employees. It is present in various distribution channels and is a supplier to most leading bars, restaurants, hotels, food retailers, and catering companies.
Bagnoli Family
The Bagnoli family are the founders and owners of the Italian ice cream company Sammontana whose roots go back to 1946. Based in Empoli, it is a leading player in the frozen pastries and gelato industry in Italy.
Its product portfolio includes iconic brands – such as gelato Sammontana and frozen pastry Tre Marie – which are primarily sold to the HoReCa sector, supermarkets, and ice cream parlours.
Forno d’Asolo
Established in 1985 and based in Treviso, Forno d’Asolo is a manufacturer and distributor of high-quality frozen products including sweet pastries, patisserie, and savoury baked products. It sells its products – including the well-known brands Forno d’Asolo and Bindi - mostly to bars, restaurants, hotels, and catering outlets with over 70,000 customers in 40 countries worldwide.
BC Partners acquired Forno d’Asolo in 2018 and the company has since quadrupled in size, achieving €500 million in sales last year. The company grew organically, as well as through acquisitions, including through the purchase of Italian pastry market leader Bindi.
