FDBusiness.com

BIP Candy & Toys Germany has acquired International Food Cooperation Germany, one of the German market leaders in the development, production and distribution of children’s confectionery under the brand licence of internationally leading film and toy companies, for an undisclosed sum. BIP Candy & Toys Germany is a subsidiary of BIP Holland, the European market leader in producing and selling licensed confectionery.

IFC had filed for insolvency on January 31, 2017. Loans to the company, which has operated profitably and reported strong growth over past years, were called in after it lost one of its main licensors. With the takeover of IFC, BIP Candy & Toys Germany is securing one of the German market leaders for licensed confectionery and strengthening its own German business.

IFC is the exclusive sales partner for the PEZ brand in Germany, offering a broad product range of licensed confectionery in the candy and chocolate articles area. The wholesale company, founded in 2007 and operating across the whole of Europe, generated sales of around EUR30 million in 2016.

BIP Holland has operated in the European market for 30 years. Along with Germany, BIP operates in the UK, France, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic and Scandinavia, and outside Europe also in Hong Kong and many other countries with its distribution partners. As an experienced licensing specialist, BIP Holland is exclusive confectionery partner in numerous sales regions to some of the largest international children’s entertainment companies such as Disney, Universal, Warner, Nickelodeon and many others. Employing around 100 people, BIP Group is projecting sales of Eur75 million for the 2017 fiscal year.