Acquisition of the AIF Group

ECF Group announces a new external growth operation in France with the acquisition of Groupe AIF, a supplier of furniture for professionals in the HoReCa sector (hotels,  restaurants, and cafés), with its brands Ligne Vauzelle and Macorest. This acquisition strengthens ECF's Furniture business unit in Europe, with subsidiaries Lepage, Chomette and Ecotel.

strengthens its position in the furniture market with the acquisition of Groupe AIF, a leading supplier of furniture to the Foodservice sector through its brands Ligne Vauzelle (based in Meaux) and Macorest (Mulhouse).

Since its creation in 1982, Ligne Vauzelle has been advising and assisting its customers with a complete, top-of-the-range offer in the design, manufacture, installation, and distribution of furniture. The quality of this service has made Ligne Vauzelle a renowned player in the manufacture of indoor and outdoor furniture (chairs, tables, benches) for professionals.
The acquisition of Macorest expanded the AIF Group's offering in 2014, specializing in professional outdoor furniture, with customers accessed directly or via resellers.

his acquisition is a further step in the creation of a powerful Business Unit dedicated to furniture within ECF Group. This product vertical was significantly strengthened in 2017 with the acquisition of Groupe Lepage, a distributor of furniture for HoReCa professionals in Belgium and France. The business unit will also be able to draw on the expertise in these products of the Ecotel brand, the Group's network of Cash & Carry stores in France (independent and wholly-owned stores). ECF Group will also rely on its powerful network of international subsidiaries to extend its furniture offering, notably in Italy and the Persian Gulf (Restofair).

CF Group is delighted to be able to draw on the experience of Paul ANDREI, Managing Director and former majority shareholder of the AIF Group. He will keep his current position and become one of ECF Group's key managers. Paul ANDREI will have the task of continuing and accentuating the development of the Furniture Business Unit within ECF Group, alongside Jérôme Lepage, Managing Director of Flexmob, which will act as the Group's central furniture purchasing office.

his acquisition is conformed with the ECF evolution that started in 2017 with the support of Naxicap Partners. The multiple acquisitions symbolise the healthy situation of the Group with 15 acquisitions since the exit of COVID crisis. The acquisition is supported by PAI Partners, a pre-eminent private equity firm, which has formalized the acquisition of a majority stake in ECF Group.