Odewald KMU has successfully sold its majority stake in the Karl Schmidt bakery group to Argos Wityu, marking a strategic transition aimed at further growth and innovation in Germany's competitive bakery market.

Information on the Target

Odewald KMU has successfully divested its majority stake in the Karl Schmidt bakery group to Argos Wityu. Initially acquired in 2017 as part of a succession plan, Odewald KMU played a pivotal role in transforming Karl Schmidt from a family-run business to a leading bakery group in the region. Throughout this partnership, Karl Schmidt implemented a successful succession strategy for the company, which has been operating for four generations.

When Odewald KMU invested in 2017, the Karl Schmidt group had approximately 50 locations and employed around 400 staff members. Over the years, the company has achieved significant growth within a still fragmented bakery market, now boasting over 70 branches and employing more than 700 individuals, thus establishing itself as a key employer in the area. Karl Schmidt operates as a system gastronomy chain, providing customers with four distinct branch concepts, supported by a centralized production and logistics system that enables efficient production processes.

Industry Overview in the Target’s Specific Country

The bakery industry in Germany remains highly fragmented, characterized by a vast number of individual firms and a diverse range of products. It is a traditional sector tha