VADO: deeply rooted in Food Manufacturing
VADO focuses its investment policy primarily on manufacturing companies operating in growing end markets. Our focus is on sectors such as Energy & Energy Transition, Hightech & Semicon and Food Manufacturing. In this article, we highlight the growing end market Food Manufacturing, where VADO traditionally has a strong position in.
At VADO, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the manufacturing sector. Our company has a strong foundation in the food industry. We are dedicated to supporting manufacturing companies in this promising sector, helping them to achieve their goals both in the short and long term. Our active buy-and-build strategy is designed to strengthen their market position and ensure their continued success.
Food Manufacturing: Interesting growth market
Solid base for future growth
The robust Dutch position in food manufacturing establishes a substantial foundation for future growth. By investing in efficient and hygienic food processing technologies, we help improve safety and quality and optimize production worldwide.
As the global population continues to grow, the demand for processed and easy-to-prepare food products is increasing. At the same time, there is a growing demand for healthy, natural, sustainably, and ethically produced food. In line with this, the food processing industry has grown significantly in recent years.
Faster, more efficient and at lower cost
It is imperative to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of production processes to ensure the continued fulfilment of growing food demands and the prevention of food scarcity. Also, in numerous countries, artisanal methods are being phased out in favour of industrial processing lines, thereby facilitating faster, more economical, and larger-scale production.
The company’s future growth will depend on further investment in digital transformation. The implementation of automation, system integration, connectivity, pre-emptive maintenance and artificial intelligence (AI) will optimise processes and enhance Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). In this way, food processing companies can maintain competitiveness and answer to the requests of their customers.
Interesting growth market
The global food processing equipment market is estimated to be valued at over EUR 100 billion, indicating its substantial size. The sector is growing by around 5% annually, offering significant opportunities for further development and investment. In this regard, VADO identifies particular potential in the bakery and confectionery sectors, where our companies already hold a solid position. For instance, we anticipate significant growth in the market for bakery products (which is already substantial in Europe and North America) also in upcoming markets like Asia.
However, we are also exploring opportunities in other food segments, such as ingredients, potatoes, fruit and vegetables, and beverages. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry, which utilizes comparable production processes, is a growing area of interest for us.
VADO: Strong position in Food Manufacturing
VADO has historically held a prominent position in the Food Manufacturing market. Our various companies focus with innovative products and solutions on this rapidly expanding sector, where the pursuit of increasing efficient and sustainable food production is paramount.
Verhoeven Family of Companies
Already since 1992 Verhoeven Family of Companies is a VADO company. Thanks to a solid buy-and-build strategy, Verhoeven has grown into a global top player in various market segments. The Verhoeven Family of Companies is the holding company of two innovative divisions: Verhoeven Material Handling Family and Verhoeven Bakery Equipment Family
For instance, Verhoeven Bakery Equipment Family designs, develops and manufactures industrial turnkey custom solutions for the international bakery industry. The five business units – BVT Dough Process Solutions, NewCap Industrial Handling Solutions, Vacuum Cooling & Baking Solutions, Bakepack End of Line Solutions and Verhoeven Industrial Automation (VIAS) – have firmly established a strong position in the production chain through their process expertise and technical competencies.
Orangeworks Group
Another notable example is Orangeworks Group, acquired in 2022, leading manufacturer and supplier of highly advances technologies for the food industry and specialised in customized solutions for chocolate, confectionery and liquids.
In 2020, Orangeworks itself already acquired industry peer Tanis Food Tec (TFT), which specializes in developing customized solutions for the confectionery, marshmallow and creams for chocolate and bakery products. Also in the case of Orangeworks, we are pursuing a long-term buy-and-build strategy. For instance, Orangeworks further strengthened its position in the confectionery sector in 2024 through the acquisition of Böhnke & Luckau technology (B&L Chocolate) and closed a strategic partnership with S&S Baking Solutions.
Company News
The solutions of Verhoeven Family of Companies support bakeries in optimising production processes. With its technology, companies can respond to changing market demands and produce a wide range of products efficiently.
Thanks to the flexibility of its industrial bakery lines, different recipes and products can be alternated efficiently, without losing quality.
2024 heeft Orangeworks Group has entered into a strategic partnership with S&S Baking Solutions. With this alliance, both companies jointly focus on further developing innovative, sustainable and efficient production technologies for the bakery industry.
Earlier that year, Orangeworks Group strengthened its position in the confectionery sector with the acquisition of Böhnke & Luckau technology (B&L Chocolate).
The business unit Vacuum Cooling and Baking Solutions of Verhoeven Family of Companies is a world market leader in vacuum cooling and baking systems for industrial bakeries. The revolutionary technology leads to significant improvements in the baking process and final products. By effectively managing air pressure, the baking point can be lowered to just a few degrees Celsius.
This technique saves time, space and energy during the baking and cooling process. Product quality and stability improve, and the final product keeps longer.
the trade fair for international suppliers to the confectionery and snack sector ProSweets Cologne 2025, the Orangeworks Group companies presented their latest innovations together for the first time: Orangeworks, Tanis Food Tec, B&L Chocolate and S&S Baking Solutions.
Here, they showed their combined expertise in confectionery, chocolate, steam baking and bakery technology: from innovative equipment to customised solutions.