Gate Gourmet to acquire deSter

Gate Gourmet announced July 9 that it agreed to acquire deSter Holding BV of Amsterdam, the well-known maker of cutlery, chinaware and amenity kits.

Private equity fund group EQT has owned deSter since 1999. The company had sales of €235 million (US$442 million) in 2006, and more than 350 airlines as customers. deSter also owns Supplair, a provider of alternative airline meal solutions assembled off-airport. Gate Gourmet also recently acquired a majority share in Packattack, a Netherlands based packaging company.

Details of the transaction were not disclosed, and the purchase is subject to review by competition authorities in various jurisdictions around the world.

 “This transaction, and others recently announced, is a clear signal that Gate Gourmet is healthy, growing and open for business as the global pacesetter of airline inflight solutions,” said David Siegel, Chairman and CEO of Gate Gourmet.
 
“Airlines have told us they want flexibility, innovation and alternative options. Our evolving business line will offer exactly that,” he added.
 
 deSter was founded in 1936 and has approximately 1,000 employees. It operates assembly units and warehouses in Europe and the United States and has production facilities in Hoogstraten, Belgium, and Prachinburi, Thailand.
 
The company has four well-known brands. deSter designs and produces reusable and disposable plastic airline and retail contact items such as trays, glasses and cutlery. Virtuoso produces high-end chinaware and contact items for premium class cabins. Its Harmony brand provides a range of comfort items, including amenity kits with brand-name contents, as well as hygiene and gift items. Supplair supplies branded, packaged food components assembled at central production units in Europe and the U.S. and supply chain management, warehousing and distribution facilities, as well as product sourcing and service concept development.