Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream seal joint venture deal

By Matt Atherton

- Last updated on GMT

Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream agreed to set up Froneri
Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream agreed to set up Froneri

Related tags R&r ice cream Vice president Milk

Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream have completed the deal to create the new joint venture company Froneri, they confirmed today (October 3).

The new company will specialise in manufacturing ice cream, frozen food and chilled dairy products. The deal was completed following successful employee consultations and regulatory approval.

Froneri will be headquarted in the UK and have sites in 22 countries, including in Europe, the Middle East (excluding Israel), Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the Philippines and South Africa. It will achieve €2.6bn (£2.3bn) in sales and employ around 15,000 people, the company said.

The planned deal between manufacturers Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream was announced in April​. At the time, Nestlé ceo Paul Buckle said: “This is an exciting growth opportunity in a dynamic category.

‘An exciting growth opportunity’

“Froneri will capitalise on complementary strengths and innovation expertise, combining Nestlé’s strong and successful brands and experience in ‘out-of-home’ distribution, with R&R’s competitive manufacturing model and significant presence in retail.”

Nestlé executive vice president Luis Cantarell was appointed to chair the Froneri board of directors, and Ibrahim Najafi – formerly ceo of R&R Ice Cream – was appointed ceo of Froneri.

Najafi said: “I am thrilled about the potential of Froneri and the opportunity for R&R to combine with the biggest and best food business in the world.

‘From strength to strength’

“R&R has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, and the blend of people from the two organisations will create a leading team, ideally suited to drive future growth.”

FoodManufacture.co.uk first revealed that Nestlé and R&R were in talks in October 2015​. The companies had worked together for the past 14 years – most recently in Australia and South Africa.

Meanwhile, sales dropped 1.3%​ at R&R Ice Cream in its first quarter of 2016, following tough European trading conditions and fluctuating exchange rates. Nestlé posted a net profit of CHF 4.1bn (£3.3bn) between January and June 2016, a CHF 400M (£319M) drop on the same period last year.

Froneri – at a glance

  • Joint venture between Nestlé and R&R Ice Cream
  • Company to operate in 22 countries
  • Sales of €2.6bn (£2.3bn) expected
  • 15,000 staff employed

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1 comment

Requires more information about Joint venture .

Posted by Harish Nair,

Requires more information about Joint venture and as to how it will help and the two companies to get the market share of these 22 countries and rest about the Consumer who will be going to get the ultimate benefit from these products .Apart about the respective company' s profit margin and decision making along...regards' Harish.

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