Founding of a family company
Our story starts with Gerard Vanherpe, who sets up a flour mill (Ganda Molens) in Ghent, Belgium. Today, his grandsons Guido and Marc Vanherpe are the 3rd generation to lead our company.
This is our history
1939
1973
From acre to baker
In the sixties, Gerard’s sons Erik and Johan join the company. By taking over ‘La Lorraine Bakery’, the business diversifies from milling into baking. The bakery was founded in 1943 at Place Sainte Catherine in Brussels and moved to new premises in Ninove in 1970.
1980’s
Breakthrough innovation
LLBG pioneers with a groundbreaking new bakery technology: bake-off. Products are partially baked, frozen and then delivered to clients, who bake off exactly what they need and when they need it. More convenience, less waste!
1982
Panos is born
Launch of the Panos concept. Aim: selling bread, viennoiserie and quick sandwich lunches to consumers. First store opens in Ostend (Belgium).
1982
More milling!
Acquisition of Herkens Mill in Antwerp, later called Brabomills. Today it is known by the name Paniflower, representing one of the largest flour producers in Belgium, processing about 400,000 tons of grain a year.
1989
New frozen bakery
Construction of the group’s first frozen bakery plant in Erpe-Mere (Belgium).
1991
Acquisition
LLBG takes over fresh bakery Manshoven Vers NV in Alken (Belgium).
1995
Acquisition
LLBG takes over fresh bakery Derkenne-Couline in Barchon (Liège, Belgium).
1999
‘Go East strategy’ takes off in Czechia
For the first time, LLBG invests outside of its home country Belgium. We go east, to the Czech Republic, where we start a joint venture with the Delta Frozen bakery in Kladno (near Prague), now known as La Lorraine CZ.
2004
Acquisition
LLBG takes over and expands fresh bakery ‘Flanders Bakery’ in Ostend.
2005
Expansion to Poland
Our ‘Go East strategy’ continues with the acquisition of Nowakowski bakery in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, near Warsaw, now known as La Lorraine Poland.
2005
Welcome, PANESCO!
In the same year, LLBG also acquires PANESCO Europe, a portfolio of bakery products focused on the foodservice segment.
2008
Disastrous fire
On 28 October, a huge fire destroys our largest fresh bakery in Ninove (Belgium). It is completely rebuilt in only a year.
2008
Acquisitions
Takeover of the fresh bakery ‘La Mosanne’ in Liège (Belgium), later integrated into La Lorraine Barchon. Takeover of the fresh bakeries De Kort and Van De Peer, now known as La Lorraine Antwerp.
2011
Joint venture in Romania
We continue investing in Eastern Europe, this time by means of a joint venture with Macromex, now known as La Lorraine Romania.
2012
Entrepreneur of the Year
LLBG is nominated ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, a prestigious award in Belgium. The event creates a fantastic feeling of pride and togetherness in our entire organisation.
2014
First Highbay warehouse
Opening of our first Highbay, in the Czech Republic. It is a high-tech frozen warehouse more than 40 meters high, drastically increasing our production and storage capacity and improving our logistic flow.
2015
Royal visit at opening of new Polish plant
His Majesty King Filip of Belgium officially opens the new Highbay warehouse in Poland.
2016
Opening of new Turkish production site
LLBG builds a brand new state-of-the-art bakery in Manisa, near Izmir, Turkey. Our gateway to the Turkish and Middle East markets.
2016
Family Business Award of Excellence
LLBG wins the ‘Family Business Award of Excellence’, which rewards family companies that stand out in terms of good governance both in the family and business, their vision and maintenance of family values, and ensuring the entrepreneurial spirit is passed on from generation to generation.
2016
Acquisition
Takeover of the fresh bakery "Le Bon Grain" in Morlanwelz (Belgium).
2019
80 Years of Shared Passion
LLBG celebrates its 80th birthday with all 4,000 employees across the group, throwing fantastic parties which will be remembered for a long time!
2021
Expanding our footprint in Southern Europe
With a joint venture in Greece (Bakehellas) and Italy (SPA Bakery), LLBG is expanding its footprint in Southern Europe.
2022
Integration of joint venture in Hungary
In 2021, LLBG increases its stake in Hungarian joint-venture partner Pékpont and fully integrates the company into LLBG in 2022. Pékpont was founded in 1997 and is known for selling artisan bakery products.
2022
Acquisition of local bakery plant in Abu Dhabi (UAE)
We expand our production footprint to the Middle-East region, with the acquisition of a frozen bakery plant in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The aim is to support our ambitious growth plans in the region, especially in the segment of rustic touch breads.
2023
Further strengthening of our footprint in Europe
With the go-live of our joint-venture Backunion in Germany and Kristiania Gourmet in Norway, LLBG is strengthening its footprint in Europe.
2023
Erpe-Mere: bakery site of the future
Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo officially inaugurates the first new production hall in Erpe-Mere; a crucial milestone in the expansion and renovation of the bakery site, transforming it into the Group’s bakery site of the future.
2023
LLBG: baking a better world together
LLBG launches its new purposeful mission, embedding an ambitious new sustainability strategy.
2024
New joint venture in the USA
LLBG has taken a 50% stake in Bakery de France, a frozen bakery company located in Washington DC, USA and one of the market leaders in artisanal bake-off bread in the North American retail and foodservice market.