Nestle and R&R Ice Cream seal joint venture deal

FOOD giant Nestle and Yorkshire-based R&R Ice Cream have completed the deal to create their Froneri ice cream and frozen food joint venture.

With sales of around 2.6 billion Euro, Froneri will operate in 22 countries across the world, employing around 15,000 people.

As announced in April, the company will be headquartered in the UK and will have sites primarily in Europe, the Middle East, (excluding Israel), Argentina, Australia, Brazil, the Philippines and South Africa.

The companies said that Froneri will build on the success of Nestle’s strong brands and experience in ‘out of home distribution’ and R&R’s competitive manufacturing performance and significant presence in retail.

Froneri’s leadership team combines industry expertise from across Nestle and R&R. The company’s board of directors is chaired by Luis Cantarell, Nestle’s executive vice president, Europe, Middle East and North Africa and its CEO is Ibrahim Najafi, formerly CEO of R&R.

A spokesperson for Froneri said: “R&R’s relationship with Nestle goes back to 2001 when R&R bought their UK ice cream business.

“Since then the relationship has strengthened as it bought the Peter’s business in Australia which was once in Nestle ownership and the Nestle South Africa ice cream business.

“We have always believed that together both businesses bring distinct strengths to the table that were and are complimentary.

“To create this joint venture, to create Froneri, is a dream come true for many of us. We are convinced that our partnership will be successful.”