Bella Bulgaria, a meat-to-dairy products manufacturer, said it acquired assets from foodservice supplier Marathon Foods in Hungary in 2019, contrary to a previous announcement that it had acquired the company outright.

In the summer of 2019, Bella announced it had bought Marathon Foods for a price tag of BGN12m (then US$6.8m) and the news was widely reported at the time. The company has now retracted that information.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

In a statement sent to just-food dated 5 January, Bella said: “Bella Bulgaria SA states that our company has never acquired Marathon Foods Kft. as a legal entity.

It continued: “In accordance with the agreements achieved during the negotiation process between Bella Bulgaria SA and Marathon Foods Kft. our company acquired production lines, technical equipment, as well as rented factory space, along with related infrastructure.”

Bella declined to provide more details.

Located in Budapest, Marathon Foods also supplies major retailers in the European Union such as Tesco, Aldi, Spar, Iceland and Auchan. Its counts the fast-food chains McDonald’s and Burger King amongst its out-of-home customers. Its product range includes strudels, spring rolls, cheese and pasta bites, pastries, meat and fish products, and cinnamon and Mexican rolls. 

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now