The Dutch investment company Standard Investment and FrieslandCampina have reached agreement on the take-over of FrieslandCampina Riedel B.V., producer of, among others, Appelsientje, CoolBest, DubbelFrisss, DubbelDrank, Taksi and Extran. We expect to have completed the transaction before the end of the year.

Earlier this year, FrieslandCampina announced that it would sell Riedel, because the company wants to fully concentrate on its dairy portfolio. Roel van Neerbos, member of the Executive Board of Royal FrieslandCampina: ‘We were looking for a buyer that will be able to take Riedel to a next phase. With its broad knowledge and experience, Standard Investment came out best here. I am convinced that the new owners will make optimum use of the market opportunities of Riedel as an independent company.’

To Standard Investment, which also has interests in, among others, Burger King Netherlands and pre-baked bread producer Dutch Bakery, the take-over means an important expansion of its portfolio. Guido Grobbink, partner with Standard Investment: ‘Riedel has developed itself to become market leader in ambient and chilled juices and fruit drinks in the Netherlands since the nineteen seventies. Consumers give Appelsientje, CoolBest, DubbelFrisss and DubbelDrank places in the top 10 of indispensable drink brands. However, we drink as a whole about 25 percent less fruit juices than we did 10 years ago and this has had an impact on Riedel.’ Grobbink sees a lot of opportunities for the company: ‘We want to put emphasis again on the inherent qualities of fresh and other fruit juices and the importance of these for a well-balanced lifestyle. This is quite a challenge, but we have a lot of confidence in the employees and the management. I am looking forward to expand the entrepreneurship in Riedel and to give the wonderful brands of this company the attention they deserve.’

The intended transaction is dependent on a number of conditions, including the approval from the Authority for Consumers & Markets and the completion of the works council consultation. The financial details have not been published.

About Riedel

Riedel was founded in 1879 as a producer of fruit juices. With its brands such as Appelsientje, CoolBest, DubbelFrisss, DubbelDrank, Taksi and Extran the company developed itself to become market leader in ambient and chilled juices and fruit drinks in the last quarter of the past century. Riedel is established in Ede and achieved a turnover of about 125 million euro with 200 employees. The authoritative EURIB Top-100 Onmisbare Merken [Top 100 indispensable brands] places the Riedel brands Appelsientje, CoolBest, DubbelFrisss, DubbelDrank in the top 10 for the category ‘Soft drinks and the like’.

About Standard Investment

The Amsterdam firm Standard Investment is an investment company focused on Dutch and Belgium small and medium-sized businesses. The company, which was founded in 2004, believes in direct involvement with the companies it participates in. Standard Investment participates in, among others, Dutch Bakery, Synres, Dierenartsengroep Nederland, Aweta, Flatfield, KeyMusic and Burger King Netherlands. With a team of eleven professionals, Standard Investment manages a portfolio of fifteen companies with a total of over 3000 employees and a turnover of 500 million euro. For further information, please visit: www.standard.nl.