Maltese-based food manufacturer Foster Clark Products (FCP) has completed the acquisition of Italian chip and savoury snack producer Preziosi Food, taking 100% ownership in a deal that marks its entry into the Italian market and a significant step in its European growth strategy.

Preziosi, headquartered in Melfi, Italy, is a leading player in the savoury snack market, producing over 130 million packs annually under its own Salati Preziosi brand as well as private-label products for major retailers. Founded in 1999, the company employs around 200 people and generated revenues of more than €86 million in 2024, with an EBITDA margin of 13%. It was previously majority-owned by investment funds Vertis SGR and HAT Sicaf, with minority stakes held by Grani & Partners and other investors.

The deal provides FCP — part of Francis Busuttil & Sons Ltd and best known for its Foster Clark’s powdered beverages, desserts, and baking aids — with a modern industrial platform and a strategic operational base in Italy. FCP already exports to more than 70 countries worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, but the acquisition strengthens its European presence and positions it to diversify further into savoury snacks, confectionery, and sweet goods.

Lorenzo Caporaletti will remain CEO of Preziosi Food, ensuring operational and managerial continuity. Both companies say they share a culture of innovation and an entrepreneurial approach, which they believe will drive further growth in new and existing markets.

FCP president and CEO Joseph Busuttil called the acquisition “an important strategic step” that would “allow us to enter the Italian market through a leading industrial player”. Caporaletti described joining FCP as “an opportunity to further accelerate growth, combining industrial expertise, strategic vision, and international presence”, while assuring stability for customers and staff.

Advisers on the transaction included Houlihan Lokey, PwC, and Giliberti Triscornia e Associati for Preziosi Food, with Deloitte Malta and the Grimaldi Alliance advising FCP.