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Our history

Three decades of disciplined expansion across four divisions.

Food adventure

Bidcorp's story is one of disciplined expansion, entrepreneurial leadership and deep local roots.

From a single South African acquisition in 1989 to a global foodservice group operating in multiple regions.

Our strength lies in the shared knowledge gained from operating across multiple geographies, with each business at a different stage of maturity and growth.

Australasia
United Kingdom
Europe
Emerging markets
1995

Acquired an initial 40% interest in listed Australian foodservice business Manettas – the start of our Australian operations.

2000

Entry into the New Zealand foodservice market with the acquisition of Crean Foodservice.

2001

John Lewis Foodservice acquired and incorporated into Australia, creating the leading Australian foodservice distributor.

2017

Successfully rebranded Bidfood Australia and Bidfood New Zealand.

2019

New Zealand acquired Prepared Produce and Australia bought In2Food.

2021

Acquired Craven Foods and Salad World in Australia. New Zealand bought Total Repack, expanding into value-add repackaging.

2022

Acquired Bayview Seafoods and Variety Foods in Australia.

2023

Expanded NSW footprint with Midwest Foods acquisition in Australia.

2024

New Zealand bought Wild Nation, rebranded to Prepared Produce.

1998

Established Bidvest Plc (now Bidcorp Foodservice International) in the United Kingdom.

2000

Booker Foodservice, renamed 3663 First for Foodservice, acquired in the United Kingdom.

2011

Acquired Seafood Holdings, later rebranded to Bidfresh UK – a market-leading fresh fish foodservice business.

2015

Bought PCL 24/7 Transport Limited.

2019

Acquired Punjab Kitchen, renamed Simply Food Solutions. Bought Elite Fine Foods.

2020

Exited the PCL and Best Food logistics operation.

2022

Bidfood UK acquired Nicol Hughes, expanding national footprint.

2023

Expanded speciality businesses with acquisitions of Harvest Fine Food and Thomas Ridley.

2024

Bought Northern Bloc ice cream manufacturer. Turner Price acquired, expanding into the northeast.

2006

Acquired the Netherlands and Belgium foodservice company, Deli XL.

2009

Acquired Nowaco in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Farutex in Poland.

2011

Acquired Nowaco Baltics – a leading distributor in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

2015

Acquired a 60% stake in Gruppo DAC S.p.A, a leading foodservice provider in Italy.

2017

Entered Spain through the acquisition of Guzmán Gastronomía & Cuttings.

2018

Foodservice acquisitions in Germany and Austria. Frustock in Portugal strengthens Iberia presence.

2021

Alborghetti consolidated into Italy. Czech Republic established a depot in Hungary.

2022

Belgium acquired Fosters Fast Food. Netherlands acquired Zegro, a broad-line food wholesaler.

2023

Fruit Xpress OÜ in Estonia. Czech Republic bought Míča-Bagoňová. Spain bought Euskopan.

2024

Acquired VDS in Belgium, Baltics bought Cesars and Spain added Colofruit to its business.

2025

Acquired Broekhuysen in Netherlands, Gelgarve in Portugal and Erredi in Italy.

1989

Acquired South African Chipkins and Sea World – the start of Bidcorp Foodservice.

1992

Acquired Crown National in South Africa.

2006

Acquired Horeca Trade, a UAE-based foodservice distributor.

2007

Acquired Angliss, a foodservice wholesaler in Singapore and Hong Kong.

2012

Acquisition of Deli Meals in Chile – our first entry into South America.

2013

Acquisition of Aktaes Holdings in Türkiye.

2014

Acquired Distribuidora Irmãos Avelino, a foodservice provider in Brazil.

2015

Investments throughout mainland China, driving second-tier city presence strategy.

2019

Invested 38% in Argentinian business Blancaluna. Invested in Vietnam startup.

2020

Acquired Wet Fish in the UAE.

2021

Brazil bought Leao Marinho.

2022

Spice World Kuruman in South Africa. Brazil acquired Central Foods and Vinhais.

2023

Middle East acquired Food Fabrique. H&T Group in Malaysia came onboard.

2024

Unick Foods acquired in South Africa.

2025

South Africa: Mizoserve and Dairy Innovation. Türkiye: Kale Gida. Argentina: Blancaluna stake increased to 60%.