Healthy eating is heading for the top: the Czech boxed diet is expanding in Europe
Healthy Meals, the second largest player in the ready-to-eat boxed meals market, plans to significantly expand its production and sales. It specialises in healthy and dietary food, which has gained popularity especially among residents of larger cities. The company has the ambition to become the market leader in the Czech Republic, which would mean surpassing the current leader, the Norwegian food concern Orkla. This goal has been confirmed by the company’s owner Lukáš Drlík, who believes that expansion is a necessary step towards achieving this goal.
Healthy Catering is part of the 2D Group, which is owned by Drlík. In addition to Healthy Eating, the group also includes aquaponic farm inGreen, premium feed manufacturer Barf and refrigerated van rental company. All companies in the group are targeting a total turnover of around CZK 600m this year, with gross operating profit (EBITDA) expected to be between CZK 40m and CZK 50m. Healthy Catering sells around 35,000 boxes of a variety of meals per day, which demonstrates the growing interest in this type of catering.To support the planned expansion, Drlík took a strategic step and transferred the company Zdravé stravování to the newly established investment fund CCD Food Sicav. This fund was established in cooperation with Miloš Vančura and Riccardo Pastor, co-founders of Czech Capital Fund SICAV and KHYPO investment group. The fund plans not only to strengthen Healthy Eating, but also to acquire smaller food companies focusing on gastronomy and healthy eating. According to Drlik, the fund is mainly looking for companies focused on the production of ready meals, flavourings and other products used in food preparation. Synergies should be created especially in the area of purchasing raw materials.
The first funds have already been invested in the fund by the founders and investors. In the first phase, the fund aims to raise CZK 160 million, followed by another CZK 100 million. These funds will be used to expand production capacity and for foreign expansion. The current production area in Strážnice in Moravia, which now covers 8,000 m², will be expanded by a new hall of another 6,000 m². Production should thus gradually double.
Zdravé stravování already operates outside the Czech Republic – it supplies smaller volumes of food to Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. In addition, the company is preparing test deliveries to Germany. The planned expansion also targets other European countries, especially Italy and Switzerland. These markets offer great potential, as Drlík points out, because shelves of ready meals are a common feature in Italian supermarkets, for example.Interest in ready-to-eat boxed meals has been growing for several years, a trend that has been greatly accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic. Working from home and rising prices in restaurants have led to people increasingly seeking affordable and quality lunch alternatives. According to Košík.cz spokesman František Brož, the demand for ready meals is growing steadily, thanks in part to customers’ increasing emphasis on quality and taste. “Ready meals are no longer just a quick meal replacement, but a full meal that must meet high standards,” Brož adds.
The expansion of Healthy Eating is an ambitious project that has the potential to redefine the ready meals market not only in the Czech Republic but also in other European countries. Drlík believes that the growing interest in quality and healthy food, combined with his company’s innovative approach, will lead to further growth of the entire industry.
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