Premium pet food brand Edgard & Cooper has been acquired by US food giant General Mills.
Established in 2016, Edgard & Cooper is has achieved estimated retail sales of more than €100 million across 13 markets in 2023. Headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, Edgard & Cooper will run as a separate operating unit led by its three founders, Koen Bostoen, Louis Chalabi and Jürgen Degrande, with its financial results consolidated into General Mills’ international segment.
General Mills generated net sales of US$ 20.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, through a portfolio of well-known brands such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker and Yoplait. General Mills will fund the acquisition with cash.
Jon Nudi, group president, of pet, international and North America foodservice, said: “Edgard & Cooper is at the intersection of our Accelerate strategy’s core markets and global platforms.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the Edgard & Cooper team to the General Mills family, and we look forward to partnering together to advance their mission to revolutionize premium, natural pet food.”
Edgard & Cooper co-founder Koen Bostoen added: “We’re excited to join Team General Mills and continue doing what Edgard & Cooper is passionate about — making better dog and cat food with real ingredients that pets love and pet owners feel good about.
“Combining our brand’s natural positioning and commercial capabilities with General Mills’ marketing and supply chain expertise, we’re ready to accelerate Edgard & Cooper’s growth.”
