James Lambert chief executive and executive chairman of R&R Ice Cream
James Lambert’s business ambition is as simple as it is bold: to build an ice cream enterprise to rival Unilever’s operation in Europe.
This past April Lambert’s R&R Ice Cream scooped up the Lancashire family-owned ice cream maker Fredericks in a £49M deal.
Commenting on the deal Lambert said: “We haven’t got anything to compete with [Unilever’s brand] Magnum and to a lesser extent Cornetto. This gives us the ammunition to compete.”
This was the latest in a string of acquisitions by Europe’s largest own-label manufacturer. These acquisitions along with the sale of the business to private equity firm PAI Partners for an undisclosed amount in May has put Lambert well on track to achieving his goal.
R&R Ice Cream’s acquired the Yoomoo frozen yogurt brand in January for an undisclosed sum.
The company acquired Rolland – France’s third largest ice cream manufacturer – in 2010. The following year it bought Durigon Gelato, the German own-label ice cream business and Pilpa – the French ice cream firm.
Last year it added Eskigel – Italy’s leading own-label ice cream manufacturer – to its portfolio.
R&R Ice Cream currently has 3,000 employees and 11 production sites across the UK and Europe. Revenues for the year ending December 31 2012 were about £507M (€600M).
Lambert is also a non-executive chairman of the Animalcare Group – a leading manufacturer and supplier of animal health products.
Earlier this month Lambert stood down as chief executive of R&R to concentrate on his role as chairman.
