2008-2013 Crisis and cost-effectiveness

In 2009, Lantmännen Unibake became the majority shareholder in Bakehouse, the UK’s leading supplier of sweet and savoury pastries and speciality bread. The purchase continued Lantmännen Unibake’s massive investments in the British market making it the company’s biggest. In 2010, 

Lantmännen Unibake went on to acquire a new fast-food bakery from Hungarian milling and bakery group Elsö Pesti. The acquisition of the new production capacity in Hungary was part of Lantmännen Unibake’s international expansion strategy to strengthen its position in the Central European market. 

First major crisis in 2010

Shortly thereafter – following a 20-year period of constant growth – Lantmännen Unibake was hit by its first crisis. There were several factors behind it, but they all related to the UK market. The company tried to carry out a legal merger of all their British activities; they started up a new production facility in Bedford, and they implemented a shared IT platform – all at the same time. 

It was not long after this that Bent Pultz Larsen retired after 24 years in the company. Bent Pultz Larsen was – and still is – recognized as one of the most important figures in Lantmännen Unibake. His legacy dates all the way back to Paaskebrød, and he helped build one of Europe’s largest bakery groups. Bent Pultz Larsen was a baker by profession, so he wasn’t only seen as part of management, but also as a person with technical insight into the craftsmanship of baking. His business card said: “CEO and baker”. He died in 2017.  

2011-2013 was a wait-and-see period in Lantmännen Unibake. Structural changes were made at group level and within management. The overall focus was on cost-effectiveness and making everybody understand that after a strategic approach towards growth it became increasingly important to steer the business safely through rough waters.