Vivartia
Greek food-production and food-service group created through the merger of Delta Holding and Mechelany International.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Vivartia is a Greek food and catering group established in 2006 through the merger of Delta Holding S.A. and Mechelany International S.A. The transaction combined Delta's dairy and beverage activities, its food-service businesses, and a range of related food companies with the snack and bakery operations associated with Chipita. The deal was initially developed under the transition name “Brand Co” and culminated in the adoption of the Vivartia name in May 2006. The merger brought together several of Greece's best-known food and hospitality businesses, including Delta dairy products, Goody's restaurants, Flocafé coffee shops, Barba-Stathis frozen foods, and Chipita's snack and bakery brands. It created what was described at the time as Greece's largest food group, as well as one of the country's largest companies and a significant European food-sector participant. The transaction received “Deal of the Year 2006” recognition in contemporary business coverage. Vivartia's formation followed a restructuring and performance-improvement program initiated at Delta in 2003 under chief executive Justin Jenk. The merger process involved Jenk, Chipita majority shareholder Spyridon Theodoropoulos, and Delta majority shareholder Dimitris Daskalopoulos. The Daskalopoulos family initially held the principal ownership position in the combined group. In 2007, however, Marfin Investment Group acquired a 76.89 percent stake, changing Vivartia's controlling ownership and ending Daskalopoulos's position as majority shareholder. The group was organized around several broad operating divisions. Dairy and Beverages, formerly associated with Delta, covered milk, dairy products and beverages. Frozen Foods, centered on Barba-Stathis, represented frozen vegetables and related food products. Catering Services and Entertainment included the Goody's fast-food chain and Flocafé coffee shops. Chipita contributed snack and bakery activities, including the 7 Days croissant line and other international brands. Vivartia pursued expansion outside Greece through production, distribution, franchising and acquisitions. Its Balkan activities included Serbia and Bulgaria, while the group also reported activities or commercial interests in Egypt and Mexico. In 2008, it acquired U.S. biscuit and snack producer Nonni's Food Company for a reported $320 million, gaining brands such as Nonni's, New York Style and Old London and creating a route for 7 Days products into the American market. The same period included plans for additional U.S. manufacturing capacity. By 2010, 7 Days croissants were being produced and sold in the United States. The group also sought access to Western European markets. In 2014, Vivartia announced a cooperation with Italian dairy company Granarolo intended to support market access in France and Italy. Its Greek business included products with protected designation of origin status; feta produced within the Delta-related business received PDO designation in 2005. Vivartia has also faced regulatory controversy. In December 2007, it was initially found liable in a Greek milk-price collusion case involving several major dairy producers. The matter was disputed, and the available account states that company management was not charged with wrongdoing. The prosecution was further complicated when investigating state prosecutor Panayotis Adamopoulos was imprisoned over bribery and attempted extortion allegations involving companies connected with the case. The episode remains part of Vivartia's public corporate history, although the reference material does not establish a final uncontested resolution. Contemporary company information cited in the reference material described Vivartia as having 27 facilities, 13,500 employees, commercial operations in 30 countries or states, and estimated 2006 turnover of €1.3 billion. These figures are historical estimates for 2006, not current operating metrics. Vivartia's present ownership, executive leadership, financial condition and operating status are not established by the supplied sources.
History
Vivartia emerged from the consolidation of major Greek food businesses during the middle of the 2000s. The immediate precursor was a restructuring program at Delta Holding that began in 2003 under chief executive Justin Jenk. The program sought to improve Delta's performance and create a broader platform spanning food manufacturing, branded consumer goods and food service. The resulting transaction brought Delta Holding together with Mechelany International and incorporated the snack and bakery operations associated with Chipita. Delta's portfolio included Delta dairy products, Goody's restaurants, Flocafé coffee shops, Barba-Stathis frozen foods and other Greek food and beverage companies. Chipita added bakery and snack expertise, including products that later supported the group's international ambitions. During the transaction process, the combined business was temporarily referred to as Brand Co. The merger was completed in 2006, when the company formally adopted the Vivartia name. The new group was presented as Greece's largest food group and one of the country's most significant corporations. It combined manufacturing, branded packaged foods, restaurants, cafés and catering-related operations under a single corporate structure. The transaction was later described as the Deal of the Year 2006. Jenk left Vivartia in 2006, while Dimitris Daskalopoulos, who had been Delta's majority shareholder and a central participant in the combination, departed in 2007. Ownership changed substantially in 2007 when Marfin Investment Group acquired a 76.89 percent shareholding. This transaction transferred control from the Daskalopoulos family and marked a new phase for Vivartia. The group then continued to reorganize its activities into broad divisions: Dairy and Beverages, Frozen Foods, and Catering Services and Entertainment. The former Delta activities formed the core of the dairy and beverage division, Barba-Stathis represented frozen foods, and Goody's and Flocafé anchored the consumer-facing food-service division. Vivartia's expansion strategy combined regional development with overseas acquisitions and partnerships. In Southeastern Europe, the group operated in or targeted markets including Serbia and Bulgaria, while its international footprint also extended to Egypt and Mexico. Plans mentioned during the period included organic farming in Romania and fast-food franchising in Serbia. These initiatives reflected an effort to use the group's Greek brands and food-service capabilities across nearby emerging markets. The most prominent overseas acquisition described in the available material was the 2008 purchase of Nonni's Food Company in the United States for a reported $320 million. Nonni's brought the Nonni's, New York Style and Old London brands into Vivartia's portfolio. The acquisition also provided a distribution and manufacturing platform for 7 Days croissants in the United States. Vivartia discussed additional U.S. plant capacity, and by 2010 7 Days croissants were being produced and sold in the American market. In Greece, the group strengthened the credentials of its dairy portfolio through protected designation of origin recognition for feta in 2005, before the formal Vivartia merger. It also became involved in a contentious milk-price case. In December 2007, Vivartia was initially found liable alongside other large milk producers in allegations of collusion that disadvantaged consumers. The account available for this dossier says the decision was disputed, management was not charged with wrongdoing, and the prosecution was undermined by the imprisonment of the investigating state prosecutor on bribery and attempted-extortion allegations. The supplied material does not provide a definitive final legal outcome. Vivartia later pursued access to major Western European markets through cooperation rather than solely through acquisitions. In 2014, it announced an arrangement with Granarolo aimed at opening or improving routes into France and Italy. Historical company descriptions stated that Vivartia operated 27 facilities, employed approximately 13,500 people, had commercial presence in 30 countries or states, and generated estimated 2006 turnover of €1.3 billion. Because those figures relate to a specific historical period, they should not be interpreted as current data. The supplied references do not establish Vivartia's current owner, leadership, financial performance or operating status.
- 2014
Granarolo cooperation announced
[1]Vivartia announced cooperation with Granarolo to support access to France and Italy.
- 2010
7 Days croissants produced in the United States
[1]The 7 Days croissant line was reported as being produced and sold in the U.S. market.
- 2008
Nonni's acquisition expands U.S. platform
[1]Vivartia acquired U.S. biscuit and snack producer Nonni's Food Company and its associated brands.
- 2007
Control passes to Marfin Investment Group
[1]Marfin Investment Group acquired a 76.89 percent stake in Vivartia.
- 2006
Vivartia is formed
[1]The merger of Delta Holding and Mechelany International was completed, and the combined company changed its name from Brand Co. to Vivartia.
- 2005
Feta receives PDO designation
[1]The Delta-related dairy business obtained protected designation of origin recognition for feta cheese.
- 2003
Delta restructuring program begins
[1]A turnaround and performance-improvement strategy was initiated at Delta Holding under chief executive Justin Jenk, laying groundwork for later consolidation.
Products and positioning
Diversified Greek food, beverage, snack, frozen-food and food-service group
Dairy and beverages
Delta
Delta is the dairy and beverage business associated with Vivartia's original Delta Holding assets. Its portfolio includes milk, dairy products, beverages and feta. The business represents the group's core Greek dairy heritage and was also connected with the 2005 protected designation of origin recognition for feta.
Frozen foods
Barba-Stathis
Barba-Stathis is Vivartia's frozen-food platform, particularly associated with frozen vegetables and prepared food products. It forms the basis of the group's Frozen Foods division and extends Vivartia beyond refrigerated dairy and shelf-stable snacks.
Fast-food restaurants
Goody's
Goody's is Vivartia's fast-food restaurant business. It was included among the food-service assets brought together during the group's formation and represents the company's direct consumer and franchised restaurant activities.
Coffee shops
Flocafé
Flocafé is Vivartia's café and coffee-shop chain. Alongside Goody's, it forms part of the Catering Services and Entertainment division and gives the group a branded hospitality presence in addition to its packaged-food operations.
Bakery and snack foods
7 Days
7 Days is a snack and bakery brand associated with Chipita and later included in Vivartia's portfolio. Its croissants were an important vehicle for international expansion, including entry into the United States, where production and sales were reported by 2010.
Biscuits and baked snacks · 2008
Nonni's
Nonni's became part of Vivartia through the 2008 acquisition of Nonni's Food Company in the United States. The acquisition also added the New York Style and Old London brands and gave Vivartia a U.S. platform for biscuits and snack products.
Controversies
2007
Greek milk-price collusion allegations
Vivartia was initially found liable in a contested case alleging that it and other major Greek milk producers coordinated on prices to the detriment of consumers. The supplied account says management was not charged with wrongdoing and that the investigation became controversial after prosecutor Panayotis Adamopoulos was jailed over bribery and attempted-extortion allegations involving companies connected with the case. A definitive final outcome is not established in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2014
Cooperate with Granarolo for Western European market accessStrategyBackground
Vivartia sought to extend the distribution and market reach of its food portfolio into France and Italy.
Action taken
The company announced a cooperation with Granarolo covering access to the French and Italian markets.
Aftermath
The arrangement continued Vivartia's strategy of international expansion through commercial partnerships.
2008
Acquire Nonni's Food CompanyM&ABackground
Vivartia sought to expand beyond Europe and establish a stronger position in the U.S. snack and bakery market.
Action taken
Vivartia acquired Nonni's Food Company, including the Nonni's, New York Style and Old London brands.
Aftermath
The acquisition supplied a U.S. operating platform and supported the introduction of 7 Days croissants to American consumers.
Reported acquisition price. $320 million (2008)
2006
Complete the Delta–Mechelany mergerM&ABackground
The merger was intended to combine dairy, beverages, frozen foods, snacks, bakery, restaurants and cafés into a large integrated Greek food group.
Action taken
The combined company moved from the temporary name Brand Co. to Vivartia and organized its activities into broad food and catering divisions.
Aftermath
The transaction created a major Greek food conglomerate and was recognized as Deal of the Year 2006.
Sources1 sources
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