Lotus Bakeries has acquired Mondelez International's marketing and distribution rights for the Dinosaurus biscuit brand through its acquisition of Spanish baker Artiach.
The Belgian baker and Spanish food group Nutrexpa jointly acquired Panrico-owned Artiach. Nutrexpa secured the shares and Lotus attained the intellectual property rights for the Dinosaurus children's brand outside Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Mexico.
Since the end of June 2008 Dinosaurus has been marketed by Mondelez and its forerunner Kraft Foods in Belgium and France under licence from Artiach. The licence agreement runs until the end of June 2013.
Lotus said the acquisition strengthens its poisition in Belgium and France and offers "good opportunities for further internationalisation".
The company said it is looking at the possibility of investing EUR8m (US$10.3m) to produce the brand at its Lembeke site in Belgium, but that in the meantime, Nutrexpa will carry out production until 2014.
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Acquisition of children's concept Dinosaurus strengthens Belgian and French home markets, with good opportunities for further internationalization
Lotus Bakeries and Nutrexpa S.L. ("Nutrexpa") have made a successful joint bid for Galletas Artiach S.A.U. ("Artiach"). Nutrexpa will take over the shares of this Spanish biscuit manufacturer and Lotus Bakeries will acquire the intellectual property rights to the Dinosaurus children's concept outside Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Mexico. The transactions are conditional upon clearance from the antitrust authorities.
Since the end of June 2008 Dinosaurus has been successfully marketed by a third party brand manufacturer in Belgium and France under licence from Artiach. Sales (at consumer prices) in these two countries together are currently around € 18 million. The licence agreement between this third party brand manufacturer and Artiach runs until end-June 2013. Thereafter the Dinosaurus concept
will be marketed under the Lotus brand.
This purchase will serve to strengthen Lotus Bakeries' position in its Belgian and French home markets. Dinosaurus is currently, after the Lotus Frangipane, the best rotating biscuit in Belgium in number of units sold. This makes it the best-selling biscuit concept aimed specifically at children.
Lotus Bakeries has purchased the intellectual property rights to the Dinosaurus brand, giving it the possibility to further expand and internationalise the concept.
The Dinosaurus brand is already protected in several relevant markets and countries.
This acquisition fits perfectly into Lotus Bakeries' brand policy based on products that are distinctive in terms of quality and customer satisfaction. The transaction only relates to the intellectual property rights and no staff or production are being taken over. This will ensure a very smooth integration into the existing Belgian and French sales organizations.
Since Lotus Bakeries chooses to produce its products itself, in order to ensure quality and competitive cost, a study has already been undertaken to determine how Dinosaurus biscuits can be produced in Lembeke. This will require approximately € 8.0 million of additional investment. The new production line is expected to be operational by mid-2013.
An agreement has been concluded with Nutrexpa whereby Lotus Bakeries can, if necessary, have the current Dinosaurus cookies produced by Nutrexpa for a certain period until 2014. This provides complete certainly that Lotus Bakeries will be able to guarantee the stock and, following the expiry at end-June 2013 of the licence agreement with the third party brand manufacturer, bring the Dinosaurus biscuits under the Lotus brand in time.
CEO Jan Boone is delighted with this acquisition: "In addition to strengthening the domestic markets and the prospects for internationalization, the Dinosaurus concept also offers the possibility of bringing the Lotus caramelized biscuits under the Dinosaurus children's concept. Extensive market research will be performed to ensure we take the correct, targeted steps here."
