As market optimism for the parbaked and frozen bread category continues unfettered, Belgian group Pattyn Packing Lines has announced that it has acquired a 69 per cent majority stake in leading French equipment supplier to the sector, De La Ballina.
The French sandwich market is in full flight, reaping €6.1bn in sales in 2008 on growth of 11 per cent, finds trend trackers Gira Conseil, with the popularity of the baguette far from unerring.