Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli has reaffirmed its interest in upmarket chocolate business Godiva – while the brand’s current owner, Campbell Soup Co., refused to be drawn on the value of the business.
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Lindt CEO Ernst Tanner told Swiss magazine Bilanz is interesting in buying Godiva, which Campbell could soon sell. “Godiva is a premium brand so it would fit,” Tanner told Bilanz.
Industry watchers have expressed some doubt as to whether the Godiva business would complement Lindt’s operations.
“Lindt will be named as an interested party but the probability is 0.1%,” industry analyst James Amoroso told just-food last month. “Godiva was a topic in the mid-90s but Campbell didn’t want to sell. Subsequently, Lindt USA started its own store network, and bought Ghirardelli and Caffarel. Now, Lindt has almost more growth than it knows to do with.”
Campbell is considering its options for Godiva, one of which could be a sale. Reports in the US claimed that Campbell has put a price tag of US$1-1.5bn on Godiva.
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By GlobalDataHowever, a spokesman for Campbell refused to be drawn on the US food group’s intention for Godiva. “These are simply reports in the media. I’m not going to comment on the timing, process or potential bidders,” the spokesman told just-food this afternoon (14 September).
