The Wittamer family has sold its renowned patisserie and chocolate business to three investors. The new owners want to grow the brand further in Belgium and abroad.
Investment fund
Brother and sister Paul and Myriam Wittamer are selling their internationally renowned luxury patisserie company to a consortium of three investors, reports business newspaper De Tijd: they are Jean-Claude Marian, founder of the French retirement home group Orpea, Carlos De Meester, a developer of luxury real estate, and Frenchman Christophe Hureaux of investment company HiPi. Together, they set up the investment fund Inside Investment Fund last year.
Myriam Wittamer is stepping down from the board but her brother Paul, already 77, will continue to run the atelier together with his niece Lesley. Christophe Hureaux becomes managing director. The new owners want to grow the Wittamer brand both in Belgium and abroad without changing its DNA, it says.
Wittamer realises a turnover of 4 million euro with about 50 employees. The company has a flagship store at the Sablon in Brussels and its products are also sold at luxury supermarkets Rob the Gourmet’s Market and La Grande Epicerie. The brand also has a franchisee in Japan with 24 shops.
