UNITED ARAB EMIRATES —Global food ingredient manufacturer Nexture S.p.A. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dubai-based La Crema. The transaction establishes Nexture's inaugural manufacturing footprint in the Middle East, positioning the enterprise directly within a high-growth regional market. La Crema, founded in Dubai in 2016, specializes in the production of chocolate products, cream fillings, ice cream solutions, and ready-mix powders for the commercial food sector. The acquisition encompasses the company's regional production facility and approximately 170 operational and administrative personnel. Pending customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, the transaction is expected to conclude before the end of 2026.
Nexture S.p.A. is a globally integrated enterprise specializing in the development and manufacturing of high-quality food ingredients and value-added solutions, backed by an independently managed investment company of Investindustrial VII L.P. Since acquiring CSM Ingredients in 2021, the group has pursued an aggressive buy-and-build strategy, expanding its industrial footprint through strategic acquisitions including Frulact and Sipral Padana earlier in the year. Following the integration of La Crema, Nexture's global operational network will comprise 30 manufacturing facilities worldwide, supported by a workforce exceeding 2,900 employees and pro-forma annual revenues approaching EUR 1.2 billion.
The transaction significantly strengthens Nexture's competitive standing in the Middle East by substituting import-dependent distribution with localized production. This regional manufacturing platform provides immediate proximity to a rapidly expanding local ingredients market, reducing supply chain friction and transportation overhead. Furthermore, the integration incorporates La Crema's specialized product lines into the broader corporate portfolio, enhancing the parent company's technical capabilities across high-margin categories such as fine pastry, bakery, and gelato solutions.
For industrial operators, institutional investors, and competitors within the food and beverage sector, this agreement highlights the ongoing consolidation trend driven by private equity backing in specialized ingredient markets. Strategic buyers continue to prioritize cross-border expansion to capture localized demand and secure resilient supply chains in emerging geographic hubs. Market participants should anticipate heightened competitive pressure in the Middle Eastern HoReCa sector as global conglomerates leverage localized manufacturing platforms to scale distribution and capture market share.
