Italy’s La Linea Verde has strengthened its international expansion strategy through a double acquisition in the fresh soups segment, consolidating its presence in Northern Europe and reinforcing its focus on one of the most dynamic categories in fresh convenience.
The group announced the acquisition of Belgium-based BCS and France’s La Ferme d’Anchin, the latter through its subsidiary La Ligne Verte. The move is designed to further develop the plant-based ready meals segment, with a particular emphasis on chilled soups.
STRATEGIC MARKETS AND DEAL METRICS
The two acquired companies generate a combined turnover of approximately €22 million (2025 figures) and are well-established players in their respective domestic markets, with strong positions in large-scale retail distribution.
In Belgium, the Butterfly brand—BCS’s flagship label—has positioned itself as a leading name in a market dominated by private-label products, holding a significant share in the chilled soups category. In France, La Ferme d’Anchin commands a 48% share of the fresh soup market, confirming its role as a dominant operator in the segment.
“This transaction is an important step in our international development path,” said Domenico Battagliola, CEO of La Linea Verde. “Fresh soups are a strategic category for the future of fresh convenience: they meet growing demand for practical, healthy, and high-service solutions. With these acquisitions, we strengthen our presence in key markets and accelerate category development at a European level.”
Domenico Battagliola, CEO of La Linea Verde
Battagliola also highlighted that integrating the two companies will enable the group to build an industrial and logistics platform closer to Northern European markets. “This will allow us to introduce other categories successfully developed in Italy and Spain into these countries, gradually expanding our offering and enhancing the positioning of Made in Italy,” he added.
The integration is also expected to improve the speed of information flow across the supply chain, enhancing operational responsiveness and strengthening dialogue with European retailers, with whom discussions are already underway to broaden product assortments.
A SCALABLE INTERNATIONAL GROWTH MODEL
Currently, around 50% of La Linea Verde’s total revenue is generated in international markets, underlining its well-established global orientation. The company’s growth model is based on integrating agricultural supply chains, industrial expertise, and consumer insights, with the aim of replicating this approach in new markets through targeted acquisitions.
The acquired companies will retain their local identities, leveraging existing expertise and know-how within a framework that combines operational autonomy with gradual integration into the group’s best practices. Local suppliers will continue to play a central role, particularly in sourcing fresh raw materials—ensuring continuity and quality across the supply chain.
L’articolo Italy’s La Linea Verde acquires BCS and La Ferme d’Anchin proviene da Italianfood.net.