Livingstone advised The Bridge S.r.l., a specialized producer of plant-based alternatives to dairy products, on the sale of a majority stake to Ambienta SGR SpA, one of Europe’s largest and most established investment firms with a strategy focused on environmental sustainability.
The transaction marks the entry of a strategic partner into The Bridge’s share capital, with the founding Negro Marcigaglia family reinvesting in the company and maintaining a central role in the management and future development of the business.
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Pietro Mussolino (Vicenza), The Bridge is among the European pioneers in the plant-based dairy alternatives segment. The company develops and produces plant-based drinks, desserts, yogurts, and related products, standing out for its strong focus on ingredient quality, innovation, and clean-label formulations.
Its fully integrated, in-house production model enables The Bridge to ensure high quality standards and strong operational flexibility, serving an international client base. Today, approximately 80% of revenues are generated in international markets, both through proprietary brands and private label partnerships.
Ambienta’s investment comes at a time of strong growth in the European plant-based dairy alternatives market, which exceeds € 4.3 billion and is driven by structural trends related to health, sustainability, and changing dietary habits. In this context, The Bridge represents a solid and well-positioned platform to capture further growth opportunities.
With Ambienta’s support, the company aims to accelerate its development path by strengthening its international presence while also exploring external growth opportunities. The investor’s experience in supporting entrepreneurial businesses will be key in further consolidating The Bridge’s competitive positioning.
Francesco Lodrini, Partner at Ambienta, commented: “We are proud to announce our investment in The Bridge. Food production is one of the most critical areas in the transition to a more sustainable economy, and plant-based alternatives play a key role in reducing the environmental footprint of the agrifood value chain. This second investment for Ambienta Small Cap in just a few weeks, embodies what this strategy stands for: deploying our capabilities and network to support companies also on the smaller end of our investment range to seize growth opportunities in markets driven by environmental trends”.
Paolo Negro Marcigaglia, shareholder and CEO of The Bridge, added: “Over the years, we have built a company rooted in quality, innovation and respect for the environment, in Ambienta we found a like-minded partner to support and accelerate our expansion, strengthen our organisation and continue investing in innovation to capture the significant opportunities ahead in the plant-based sector”.
“We are proud to have supported the Negro Marcigaglia family in this pivotal milestone within a journey that has always been defined by the dedication and innovative vision of its management. We are confident that the entry of a leading investor such as Ambienta will drive a new phase of development for the company, strengthening the execution of its strategic vision through new resources and strategic capabilities,” said Luca Maccagnani Castelli, Managing Partner at Livingstone.
