18 December 2018

Paragon sells KADI to Invision

Paragon has agreed to sell its shares in KADI AG to Invision, thereby securing KADI’s long-term, independent perspective as leading supplier of premium potato products in Switzerland.

Paragon acquired KADI in a secondary buyout from ECM in June 2013. Under the stewardship of Paragon, management and the supervisory board have successfully worked on a number of improvement initiatives to secure KADI’s position as the leading producer of Swiss premium potato products. KADI has developed into one of the leading brands in the convenience sector with particularly innovative and high-quality products in recent years. “We’ve invested a lot in the development of KADI and are pleased that the company has grown accordingly,” says Marco Attolini, managing partner at Paragon. “We thank the KADI management team and all employees. With optimized processes and a new baking line, we are handing over the company to its new owners,” he adds.

KADI CEO Christof Lehmann: “This step means the seamless continuation of the long-term corporate strategy that we developed with Paragon’s support. We are pleased to have an experienced and entrepreneurial investor from Switzerland as new majority shareholder who guarantees our independence and who commits to our production site in Langenthal and all jobs”.

Founded in 1951, the Company specializes in the production of high-quality refrigerated and frozen food products for the catering and retail market. In 2017, KADI achieved sales of CHF 75 million with 180 employees. The existing and experienced management team ensures the continuity of KADI’s business activities as one of the key players in the Swiss food service and retail sector.

About KADI
KADI AG manufactures refrigerated and frozen premium potato products and is based in Langenthal, Switzerland. It employs 180 people and generates sales of CHF 75 million. The company produces around 270 items, which are used every day in over 10.000 restaurants in Switzerland. As an independent company in the food industry, KADI asserts itself on the market with its great innovative strength and high product quality. For more than 20 years, KADI has hosted the “Golden Chef” event, the most important cooking competition in Switzerland. The company was founded in 1951 as a potato flake factory. Further information is available at www.kadi.ch.

About Paragon
Paragon is one of the leading independent private equity firms in Europe with approx. €650 million of equity under management. Paragon works closely with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. The investment portfolio covers various industries and currently comprises 10 companies. Paragon was founded in 2004 and is based in Munich, Germany. For further information please refer to www.paragon.de.