Private equity firm IK Investment Partners, which has interests in a host of food businesses across Europe, is aiming to acquire Mademoiselle Desserts.

The French frozen desserts and pastry business has manufacturing sites in France and The Netherlands and, in January 2017, acquired UK baked goods supplier Ministry of Cake. It operates nine production sites and employs around 1,300 staff.

IK Investment Partners (IK) announced today (4 May) that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with Equistone Partners Europe, Céréa Partenaire, Azulis Capital and the management team to acquire a majority stake in Mademoiselle Desserts. The management team will reinvest alongside the IK fund.

IK has previously invested in European businesses including Linxis Group, Salad Signature, Cérélia Group, Løgismose Meyers and Solina Group.

“IK’s unrivalled experience in investing in European food businesses makes them an ideal partner," said Didier Boudy, CEO of Mademoiselle Desserts, which was established in 1984.

“With their support, Mademoiselle Desserts will be well positioned to capture market share and continue its active build-up strategy, for which we were actively backed by Equistone over these last years.”

IK Investment partner Rémi Buttiaux said the deal would fit IK’s investment strategy.

“We are impressed by the group’s development in the UK, France and the Netherlands. Together with the management team, we will strive to broaden the product portfolio via targeted acquisition opportunities.”