Home » Food & beverage

Food & beverage

Add a clear, descriptive SEO meta description in Yoast that summarizes the page content and encourages users to click from search results.

Subsectors we serve

Der Lebensmittel- und Getränkesektor zeichnet sich durch eine große Vielfalt an Marktteilnehmern aus – von globalen Konzernen mit umfangreichen Marken- und Produktpaletten bis hin zu kleinen und mittleren Spezialisten, die Nischenprodukte anbieten. Der sich ändernde Bedarf der Endverbraucher, der Lebensmittelindustrie und des Lebensmittelhandels, sowie die Aufgeschlossenheit gegenüber neuen Produkt- und Dienstleistungsformaten bedeuten unendliche Innovationsmöglichkeiten, aber auch die Herausforderung, eine nachhaltige Marktposition aufzubauen und zu halten.

Der Weg zu schnellem Wachstum und die damit verbundene organisatorische Neuausrichtung bieten klare Chancen und Notwendigkeiten für M&A. Unsere erfahrenen Experten bei IMAP verfügen über das notwendige Insiderwissen und die entscheidenden Kontakte. Gemeinsam mit unseren Kunden reduzieren wir die Komplexität, erkennen lukrative Chancen und entwickeln das perfekte Rezept für den strategischen Erfolg in dieser dynamischen Branche.

We advise clients operating in:

Agriculture & Farming

Brewers, Distillers & Wineries

Food Processing, Labelled & Packaged Goods

Livestock & Fishing

Natural/Organic/Health Foods & Ingredients

Non-alcoholic Beverages

Tobacco

Industrial M&A Market Trends and Insights

2024 recorded 1,750 deals, marking a decline from 2,592 transactions in 2023 due to economic uncertainty.

The median transaction value in 2024 was €17M, aligning with the trend of mid-market acquisitions.

85% of completed transactions involved majority stake acquisitions, while 15% were minority deals, asset purchases, or spinoffs.

Geographical Market Trends

North America and Europe dominated M&A activity, contributing to 83% of total deal volume between 2019 and 2024.

The US (45%) led transaction volumes, followed by the UK (9%), China (4%), France (4%), and Germany (4%).

Cross-border transactions accounted for 30% of total activity, while 70% remained domestic.

Buyer Type and Investment Trends

Strategic buyers dominated the space, accounting for 80% of all transactions.

Financial buyers (20%) have maintained a steady presence, focusing on larger assets with an average deal size of €85M, compared to €17M for strategic buyers.

Private Equity (PE) activity remains robust, with 52% of European PE fundraising coming from the UK & Ireland in FY23.

Latest trends:

Industrial M&A Market Trends and Insights

The industrial sector remains a cornerstone of global M&A activity, recording over:

18,000 completed transactions between 2019 - 2024

combined reported value exceeding

€580 billion.

Key Investment Trends

Industrial M&A continues to evolve amid shifting economic conditions, geopolitical uncertainty, and rapid technological change. Although deal volumes have fluctuated, investor appetite, particularly within the mid-market, remains strong.

Impact of Macroeconomic Conditions

Higher interest rates and inflationary pressures contributed to a decline in total deal value, from:

€69B in 2023 to €57B in 2024.

Geopolitical instability has introduced caution among investors, leading to slower deal flow compared to previous years.

Shift Toward Mid-Market Transactions

Mid-sized transactions now dominate industrial M&A, reflecting investor focus on strategic growth opportunities and operational synergies that deliver faster value creation.