The Green Lantern Foundation and Richie Hunter never stop filling their shopping cart with food manufacturers in the Israeli market. This time it is about the meat factory of Kibbutz Yehiam, which will sell 51% of its holdings in the 'Medani Yehiam' factory for the production of sausages and pastrami, to the Green Lantern Foundation owned by Richie Hunter. The scope of the transaction is estimated at approximately NIS 140 to 165 million.
The Commissioner for Competition at the Competition Authority of the State of Israel, Ms. Michal Cohen, approved the merger between the two, and this after the plant was owned by Kibbutz Yehiam for over 50 years.
Green Lantern's share in the investment is carried out through a focused fund for investments in the food sector that was recently raised, this after several investments made by the Green Lantern team in the food sector. Ma'edani Yehiam was established in 1969 in Kibbutz Yehiam in the Western Galilee.
The company is a manufacturer, marketer and seller in Israel and overseas of pastrami, salami and kosher sausages. From its founding until today, the company has developed and grown while maintaining full ownership of Kibbutz Yachiam.
The distribution of Ma'adani Yachiam's products is done using the 'free-sal' method - orders and deliveries from one day to the next in all sales channels - national, regional chains, various sectors, institutional market, private customers, IDF bases, from Metula to Eilat, in an independent logistics and distribution system and within Adherence to standards and service.
In order to maintain independence from the kibbutz, at the same time as controlling the decisions and results, an administrative separation was made as early as 1993 between the kibbutz that established the plant and instilled in it traditions and values of work, belonging and commitment and the continuously and unexpectedly changing market - the consumers and customers. To ensure independence and independence, a separate board of directors was established for the company, with an external chairman and professional directors in charge at all times.The goals were and still are: customer satisfaction, welfare and livelihood for the employees, profit for the growth of the company and their welfare, the safety of the founders and members of Kibbutz Yachiam.
From the 1980s the company steadily developed the export markets and as of today over 20% of the company's products are exported by sea to kosher and strictly kosher markets in the USA under the Hod Golan brand and through the logistics and distribution system of the Bagel-Bates company. In Europe - France, England, Italy and Hungary in various brands, including - La Grange, a premium brand owned by Ma'adanei Yehiam, in the kosher market in France.
In 2012, Ma'adi Yachiam purchased the American company Abeles & Heymann, which produces strictly kosher meat delicacies 100% beef. The company, which was founded and has been operating in New York since 1954, has a variety Products without preservatives, reduced fat and salt.
According to Yohai Neeman, CEO of Ma'adanei Yehiam company: "The kibbutz decided to find a strategic partner who together will accelerate the growth of the company in the coming years. A partner who can lead rational changes with creativity, investment and openness in the shared half. This time we were convinced that two are better than one, and if both are greater than one - we won."
According to him, most of the proceeds will likely be used to cover deficits and pay off debts, thus bringing financial security that will ensure the future of the kibbutz veterans, including members who are among the founders of the kibbutz who fought for the place, built the kibbutz and established the Ma'adanei Yehiam factory.
On behalf of Green Lantern, the investment was led by the three partners: Richie Hunter, Danny Ben Rai and Yosef Aliash, who said: "We have 5 investment principles and they are: a brand loved by consumers, a leading company in its field, a good level of profitability, good and fair partners and growth potential - and delicious Yahyam answers everyone!". "We are proud to be partners of Kibbutz Yachiam, its founders and successors and to work shoulder to shoulder with the company's team of managers and employees, to whom we were exposed and impressed by them as experts, determined and perhaps even more so as a group that wants to learn and is aware of the benefits that connection can bring to it in the fields of trade, marketing, diversification of activity, The innovation and integration with other companies in the Green-Lantern group."