Cargill buys Belgium-based Leman Decoration Group

Cargill has announced its acquisition of Leman Decoration Group, a supplier of cake decorations across the bakery sector, for an undisclosed sum.

The deal will see Cargill expand its offerings in the decorations space, enabling its cocoa and chocolate business to better serve gourmet customers in Europe and around the world.

Established in 1963, Leman Decoration Group is a producer of cake decorations in chocolate, sugar and marzipan. The company supplies its decorations to customers in the bakery sectors – including the artisanal, small industrial and home-baking segments, as well as foodservice – across 55 countries.  

The deal marks the latest in a series of moves by Cargill to expand its presence and product line in the gourmet space, following its acquisition of Smet – a gourmet chocolate producer based in Belgium. The Leman Decoration brand will join Cargill’s gourmet portfolio of Veliche Gourmet, Smet and Vanova.

Under the terms of the transaction, Cargill will acquire all of Lemon Decoration Group’s facilities including its three manufacturing sites in Belgium, Mauritius and Thailand. Meanwhile, nearly 450 employees will join the Cargill family, reporting to its dedicated global gourmet and distribution organisation.

According to Cargill, customers will now benefit from increased intimacy and high speed to market with complementary decoration technology, enhanced production capabilities and a wide product portfolio.

“By adding Leman Decoration Group to the Cargill family, we’re able to support our gourmet and industrial customers at every step of their journey – from concept to finished product,” said Inge Demeyere, managing director of Cargill Chocolate Europe.

“Our dedicated gourmet business will be a true one-stop-shop for all their chocolate needs, inclusions, decorations, couverture chocolate and now also, an extensive range of special decorations, all backed by a unique platform for sound customer service, including extensive R&D and printing capabilities, and the combined expertise and resources of two world-class organisations.”

Didier Leman, owner of Leman Decoration Group, added: “Cargill’s deep chocolate production expertise and established global cocoa and chocolate supply compliments our long-standing commitment to our gourmet customers.

“By joining with Cargill, we can build on our nearly six-decade legacy in the decoration space and leverage the collective strengths of our complementary operations to better serve the full-spectrum of our clients’ need today and for years to come.”

Leman Decoration Group’s R&D hub is located just 1.5km away from Cargill’s House of Chocolate complex – featuring a chocolate experience facility, pilot plant and sensory lab – which is slated to open in early 2022.