Louis François Joins Novax as Part of the Growing Network of Specialized Food Businesses.
Novax has completed the acquisition of Louis François SAS, the French developer of specialty functional ingredients for culinary artisans and food producers. Founded in 1908, family-owned Louis François has a century-long history of developing and providing premium ingredients and solutions to its customer base of gastronomic clients and premium chefs worldwide.
Pär Warnström, Head of Future of Food at Novax: “We are both proud and excited to partner up with Jean-Claude and the team at Louis François in this next chapter of their journey. Louis François illustrates the traits of a true market leader – a fundamentally strong and competitive niche position, an unparalleled brand recognition well-known for quality and service, and a strong and experienced management team. As a family-owned firm ourselves, we take pride in our unique position to honor family business values and look forward to working together with Jean-Claude and the team on growing Louis François further.”
In partnering with Novax, Louis François will join the newly formed Ingå Group – a Novax long-term initiative centered around healthy and sustainable ingredient solutions for the food industry, joining alongside the UK & Netherlands based functional ingredients developer and supplier Ulrick & Short.
Jean-Claude François, Louis François’ owner and third generation of the François family: “We have found a long-term partner sharing our values, vision and view on growing our business further. This alliance will preserve Louis François’ DNA and the history of our brand, while supporting the company in the next phase of its journey. We are committed to ensure a smooth transition for all of our employees and stakeholders at large and look forward to partnering with Ulrick & Short in the Ingå Group”.
CEO of Ingå Group, Adrian Short, said “we have made significant investments expanding our capabilities within product development, sales and marketing, paving the way for long-term growth. I am confident that Louis François will benefit from similar long-term support as part of the Ingå family.”
For editorial enquiries please contact :
Robert Lambert
The Ingå Group
Tel: +44 (0)7495 542686
Email: robert@theingagroup.com
Website: www.theingagroup.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ing%C3%A5-group
Louis François
Julie Cherar
Tel : +33 (0)1 64 62 74 20
E-mail – Julie.Cherar@Louisfrancois.com
About Novax
Novax AB (Novax) is a European long-term investor and operating partner. Novax is the investment company of the Stockholm-based, €10bn revenue Axel Johnson Group, founded in 1873 and owned & run by the 4th and 5th generation of the Swedish Johnson family. Building on a soon 150-year history, Novax partners up with companies in journeys sharing that long-term vision and view of building businesses – often being entrepreneur-led and family owned. Our commitment is to build and support leading and profitable businesses over the long haul.
About Ingå
Ingå Group is a long-term investor and operating partner, member of Novax’ family of companies within the Future of Food sector. Ingå’s mission statement to be the first-choice supplier of clean, simple and naturally sustainable plant-based food ingredient solutions for chefs, artisans and food manufacturers across Europe, North America and beyond, enabling consumers to eat great tasting food they can also feel good about.
This will be achieved through building & supporting an ecosystem of autonomous & market leading businesses for sustainable & long-term growth – truly investing in the future of food. To date, the Ingå Group is comprised of clean-label & functional ingredients specialists, Ulrick & Short, and French specialty premium ingredients company, Louis François.
About Louis François
Founded by Mr. Louis François in 1908, Louis François is a family-owned French developer of specialty, functional ingredients for gourmet pastry, chocolate, confectionaries and ice-cream premium artisans, culinary experts and food manufacturers. Louis François offers a portfolio of 300+ functional products, serving a diversified client portfolio worldwide composed of artisans, chefs and food producers. The company currently operates 2 sites in France (Croissy-Beaubourg and Jouy-sur-Morin), employing about 30 people.
About Ulrick & Short
Ulrick & Short is a clean label, plant-based ingredient solutions provider. Founded in 2000 by Andrew Ulrick and Adrian Short, the company is today present in the UK and across Europe with sales offices in UK and in the Netherlands. Novax and Ulrick & Short partnered up in February 2021, setting off to together realize a shared vision to build a leading family of European ingredient companies. Adrian Short is the CEO of Ulrick & Short, with a continued shareholding in the company.
