Pizza Groups Merged to Form One Billion Euro Entity
The combined entity will scale operations as grocery retail pizza increasingly competes with delivery services.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Business Strategy
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Crosta Mollica and European Pizza Group have merged to form a new enterprise with one billion euros in annual retail sales. The transaction creates a diversified portfolio across ten core European markets.
Why it matters
The merger leverages scale to accelerate growth as consumer demand shifts from the pizza delivery market toward grocery retail alternatives. This consolidation follows Crosta Mollica tripling its sales to 270 million euros since early 2024.
The combined group reaches one billion euros in annual retail sales, a significant increase from the 270 million euros recorded by Crosta Mollica alone. The entity now maintains manufacturing operations across Italy and Germany.
The players
David Milner
Group CEO of the newly merged entity with oversight of the expanded international pizza business.
Crosta Mollica
A food brand that expanded from 90 million euros to 270 million euros in retail sales since January 2024.
European Pizza Group
A pizza manufacturer that previously spun out from Nestlé in September 2023.
Nestlé
A global food and beverage corporation that holds a financial stake in the merged group.
The details
The companies will continue to operate as standalone businesses with no immediate changes to their respective operating models. The merger is backed by a consortium of investors including PAI, Perwyn, Nestlé, and management, aiming to capitalize on the complementary portfolios of the two pizza brands.
Timeline
September 2023: European Pizza Group spun out from Nestlé.
January 2024: David Milner and Tom Sirett joined Crosta Mollica.
September 23, 2026: The companies announced their merger.
Market Landscape
This merger builds upon the 2023 spin-out of European Pizza Group from Nestlé by creating a platform with deeper manufacturing scale. It reflects a broader trend of private equity-backed consolidation within the European chilled and frozen convenience food sector.
Operators should monitor whether the merger leads to centralized procurement or shared logistics across the group's Italian and German manufacturing sites. This consolidation underscores the importance of scaling retail-ready food brands as delivery competition intensifies.
The takeaway
The pizza market is currently favoring grocery retail over delivery, necessitating scale to maintain margins and market share. Monitor whether this group maintains its independent brand identities while consolidating back-end operations to drive efficiency.
Further reading
For more on industry consolidation, visit the Business Strategy section.
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