Yildiz Holding, owner of Godiva Chocolatier, is merging its core biscuit, chocolate and confectionary businesses together to form a new global company, pladis.
Incorporating Godiva—as well as United Biscuits, McVitie’s, Ulker and DeMet’s Candy Company brands—pladis will maintain operations in 120 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. With annual revenues of $5.2 billion, pladis has 36 factories in 13 countries and employs 26,000. The company will operate on a regional basis, with each region responsible for the manufacturing and commercial activities of the full pladis brand portfolio.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Yildiz plans on listing the company publicly by 2020. Yildiz Executive Deputy Chairman Cem Karakas will serve as CEO of the new company.