Novax Announces Launch of Ingå Group With the Acquisition of French Ingredient Specialist Louis François Sas
Novax strengthens its commitment to a sustainable food system and points to key role of specialty ingredients in driving positive change in the food value chain; new Ingå Group will focus on long-term & sustainable partnerships with leading ingredient specialists and create an ecosystem of support
Novax has completed the acquisition of Louis François SAS, the French developer of specialty functional ingredients for culinary artisans and food producers. Founded in 1908, family-owned Louis François has a century-long history of developing and providing premium ingredients and solutions to its customer base of gastronomic clients and premium chefs worldwide.
“We are both proud and excited to partner up with Jean-Claude and the team at Louis François in this next chapter of their journey. Louis François illustrates the traits of a true market leader – a fundamentally strong and competitive niche position, an unparalleled brand recognition well-known for quality and service, and a strong and experienced management team.
As a family-owned firm ourselves, we take pride in our unique position to honor family business values and look forward to working together with Jean-Claude and the team on growing Louis François further.”
Pär Warnström
Head of Future of Food at Novax
IN CONNECTION WITH PARTNERING WITH LOUIS FRANÇOIS, NOVAX LAUNCHES INGÅ GROUP, a long-term initiative centered around healthy and sustainable ingredient solutions for the food industry.
“The launch of Ingå Group marks our long-term engagement in the ingredients space, forming a scalable platform for our commitment to positive impact on the food value chain. We remain determined to take an active part in driving the industry forward with innovation, health and sustainability in focus by developing novel ingredient solutions.”
Pär Warnström
Head of Future of Food at Novax
Ingå Group currently consists of the UK & Netherlands based functional ingredients developer & supplier, Ulrick + Short, and Louis François. The ambition of Ingå Group is to be the first-choice supplier of food ingredient solutions for customers ranging from fine dining chefs to industrial scale food manufacturers across Europe, North America and beyond. The group will be led by Adrian Short, co-founder of Ulrick + Short, assuming the role as CEO of Ingå Group.
Ingå Group will grow through investing in & partnering with innovative, sustainable, specialist & market leading businesses within the ingredients sphere; creating a network of autonomous companies and fostering an ecosystem of support to offer opportunities to improve and develop their collective understanding & solutions.
The partnership differentiates from other investment groups in being a strategic partner, working with businesses for long-term growth, allowing partner companies to operate independently and collaboratively.
“We’re delighted to formally launch Ingå Group and are excited to continue our investment in & partnering with businesses that have a long-term & sustainable future, going into sectors which will represent the future of food manufacturing & development.
We approach our investments with absolutely no exit strategy. Our sole focus is long-term development, respecting the already fantastic companies & brands and supporting them where we can add value.”
Adrian Short
CEO of Ingå Group and Co-Founder of Ulrick + Short
About Ingå
Ingå Group is a long-term investor and operating partner, member of Novax’ family of companies within the Future of Food sector. Ingå’s mission statement to be the first-choice supplier of clean, simple and naturally sustainable plant-based food ingredient solutions for chefs, artisans and food manufacturers across Europe, North America and beyond, enabling consumers to eat great tasting food they can also feel good about.
This will be achieved through building & supporting an ecosystem of autonomous & market leading businesses for sustainable & long-term growth – truly investing in the future of food. To date, the Ingå Group is comprised of clean-label & functional ingredients specialists, Ulrick + Short, and French specialty premium ingredients company, Louis François.
About Louis François
Founded by Mr. Louis François in 1908, Louis François is a family-owned French developer of specialty, functional ingredients for gourmet pastry, chocolate, confectionaries and ice-cream premium artisans, culinary experts and food manufacturers. Louis François offers a portfolio of 300+ functional products, serving a diversified client portfolio worldwide composed of artisans, chefs and food producers. The company currently operates 2 sites in France (Croissy-Beaubourg and Jouy-sur-Morin), employing about 30 people.
About Ulrick + Short
Ulrick + Short is a clean label, plant-based ingredient solutions provider. Founded in 2000 by Andrew Ulrick and Adrian Short, the company is today present in the UK and across Europe with sales offices in UK and in the Netherlands. Novax and Ulrick + Short partnered up in February 2021, setting off to together realise a shared vision to build a leading family of European ingredient companies. Adrian Short is the CEO of Ulrick + Short, with a continued shareholding in the company.
About Novax
Novax AB (Novax) is a European long-term investor and operating partner. Novax is the investment company of the Stockholm-based, €10bn revenue Axel Johnson Group, founded in 1873 and owned & run by the 4th and 5th generation of the Swedish Johnson family. Building on a soon 150-year history, Novax partners up with companies in journeys sharing that long-term vision and view of building businesses – often being entrepreneur-led and family owned. Our commitment is to build and support leading and profitable businesses over the long haul.