CP Advisors acted as the exclusive financial advisor to La Pizza+1, the Italian leading producer of refrigerated pizza, focaccia and pinsa, on the sale to Valpizza.

Founded over 25 years ago in the province of Piacenza by Cav. Sante Ludovico and by Cav. Giuseppe Ambrosi, La Pizza+1 is today the market leader in Italy in the refrigerated rectangular pizza, focaccia and pinsa, and, together with its Ligurian subsidiary, Il Borgo, producer of Genoese focaccia, represents a unique excellence in the Italian bakery sector with its distinguished high-quality products. The company enjoys leading market shares in the retail and in the discount segments, both with its own brands and in the private label. 

The wide range of high-quality products, all natural and without preservatives,  includes a large number of references of refrigerated rectangular pizza, refrigerated and ambient focaccia and pinsa, with over 90% of the revenues generated in Italy. The business has grown with double-digit rates over the last 5 years and even in 2021, despite the impact of Covid-19, La Pizza+1 confirms its ability to continue its growth path and it is in line to exceed €30 million in revenues with EBITDA margin of approximately 20%.

The industrial project underlying the transaction, originated and run by CP Advisors, creates the largest Italian industrial group in the sector, combining La Pizza+1 with the group of complementary companies assembled by Aksia Group private equity, comprised of Valpizza, a leading company in the production of frozen pizza sold almost exclusively abroad; Megic Pizza, a manufacturer of refrigerated round pizza mainly marketed internationally, and C&D Ghiottelli, an Apulian company active in the production of frozen panzerotti.

With La Pizza+1, Aksia creates a leading group in Europe in the production and supply of distinctive Italian bakery products with a complete range of production technologies (refrigerated, frozen and ambient) and packaging, an excellent R&D center and a strong focus on both the Italian and foreign retail and foodservice sectors, with consolidated revenues of € 70 million and an EBITDA of € 12 million.

The CP Advisors team, led by Salvo Mazzotta and Marco Garro, and coordinated in the transaction by the director Giovanni Nucera, originated and managed the sale process by assisting the entrepreneurs.

Commenting on the transaction, Salvo Mazzotta, Managing Partner of CP Advisors added. “We are pleased to have assisted and guided the shareholders of La Pizza+1 in this process and in achieving an important combination in an all-Italian industrial project that guarantees business continuity, a solid link with the territory and its community. The newly created player will facilitate the acceleration of the international growth, having La Pizza+1 as the driving force of a unique complementary industrial group in the sector”