Nimbus and Varova take over Schokoladenindustrie Mannheim GmbH

The new owners will reposition Mannheim’s chocolate business back into a medium-sized structure, with its typical responsible management approach. The two investors Nimbus and Varova have a strong track record of investing into industrial manufacturing companies (more than 80 shareholdings since 1992 including a number of investments in the food industry, e.g. Chocolaterie de Bourgogne in Dijon). Nimbus and Varova will work with management in Mannheim to build an independent, agile entrepreneurial company delivering high quality products to its customers by focusing on new product development, supply flexibility and sustainability.

“We have great confidence in the team onsite across the hierarchies, and are looking forward to a smooth transition and continuity of a successful business", says Kaj Grichnik, Partner at Nimbus. The deal includes the renowned SCHOKINAG brand, established in 1923, with the exception of a 3-year license of the brand remaining with Cargill in the British Isles. Addressing the European Commission’s competition concerns, Cargill had agreed in 2015 to divest the industrial chocolate production facility in Mannheim as part of its acquisition of ADM’s global chocolate business. Subject to regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter 2016.