Livingstone advises VIVATIS subsidiary GMS GOURMET in the acquisition of SV Austria

Livingstone has advised GMS GOURMET GmbH (GOURMET), a subsidiary of the Austrian VIVATIS Group, in the acquisition of SV (Austria) GmbH (SV Austria). With this acquisition, GOURMET further expands its market leadership in communal catering in Austria and strengthens its position, especially in the areas of business and care catering.

Subject to approval by the competition authority, GOURMET, the leading catering provider in Austria, will acquire 100 percent of the shares of SV Austria.

SV Austria, a wholly owned subsidiary of SV Group AG based in Switzerland, has been operating in Austria in communal catering since 1997 and currently operates circa 50 business catering and 20 care catering locations. The company operates company restaurants in large enterprises, cafeterias in schools and universities, as well as kitchens in nursing homes and hospitals. SV Austria employs approximately 450 staff and generated a revenue of about 40 million euros in 2023.

Herbert Fuchs, Managing Director of GOURMET, emphasizes: “Thanks to the merger with SV Austria, we can significantly strengthen our customer portfolio and complement our service offering optimally. Together, we aim to leverage the extensive expertise of both companies to the benefit of our clients and guests.”

Klaus Sperrer, CFO of VIVATIS Holding AG, adds: “SV Austria and GOURMET share a high standard of quality and years of expertise in communal catering. This acquisition marks another important step in our growth strategy in the catering sector. Our thanks also go to Mr. Pignato from Livingstone Partners for the trustworthy collaboration and guidance that facilitated a smooth transaction process.”

Luca Pignato, Partner at Livingstone, expresses gratitude and remarks: “The consolidation process in the catering industry has gained momentum after the challenging years of the pandemic. Accordingly, we are pleased to have advised GOURMET in expanding their market leadership in their home market and wish for a swift and successful integration of SV Austria into GOURMET.”