Grupo Rodilla reaches an agreement to acquire 100% of A Padaria Portuguesa

The Iberian restaurant scene is experiencing significant movement with the announcement that Knee Group, the Spanish conglomerate behind such well-known brands as Rodilla, Hamburguesa Nostra and Café de Indias, has reached a definitive agreement for the acquisition of 100% of The Portuguese Padaria, a prominent restaurant chain originally from Portugal.

Founded 15 years ago by Nuno CarvalhoA Padaria Portuguesa has established itself as a benchmark in the neighboring country thanks to its extensive range of high-quality bakery and pastry products, complemented by lunch menus and salads. The Portuguese chain currently has a solid network of 84 establishments strategically located in key cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Cascais and Estoril, employing a team of 1.000 people. This acquisition will significantly boost Grupo Rodilla's presence, adding these stores to its already nearly 300 points of sale. A Padaria Portuguesa also operates two high-production bakeries in Lisbon and Porto, guaranteeing the quality of its products.

For Grupo Rodilla, with a history of more than 85 years and belonging to the Damm group, this operation represents its largest strategic move at an international level since its foray into Miami in 2019, marking its first major expansion in the European market.

Once the Concorrência Authority (AdC), the Portuguese competition regulator, approves the transaction, Grupo Rodilla will focus on ensuring a smooth transition, prioritizing team management and the continuity of A Padaria Portuguesa's daily operations. At the same time, the Spanish company will implement an ambitious growth plan for the Portuguese chain, with the goal of strengthening its Portuguese identity and boosting its international expansion.

Grupo Rodilla will implement a growth plan for the Portuguese chain, aimed at strengthening the brand's Portuguese character and boosting its international expansion.

Nuno Carvalho, founder and CEO of A Padaria Portuguesa, expressed his optimism about this new chapter: “I continue to see A Padaria Portuguesa as a true diamond in the rough, with enormous growth potential. We have found in Grupo Rodilla the ideal characteristics – particularly financial strength, management skills, values and a strong focus on people development – to accelerate the cycle of investment and brand expansion, whose natural stage of operation is now the Iberian Peninsula, taking it to new levels." Carvalho also expressed his pride in the brand's growth and thanked his team for their work.

For its part, María Carceller Arce, CEO of Grupo Rodilla, highlighted the synergy between the two companies: “Both A Padaria Portuguesa and Grupo Rodilla share core values, being family-owned businesses that offer high-quality products and exceptional service to their customers. At Grupo Rodilla, we value close customer service and the craftsmanship that goes into the daily production of our products using the highest-quality raw materials, a philosophy that aligns perfectly with the Portuguese chain.” Carceller Arce added that Grupo Rodilla is committed to driving the growth of A Padaria Portuguesa, strengthening its mission of offering exceptional experiences to its customers.

This strategic acquisition positions Grupo Rodilla as an even more relevant player in the Iberian Peninsula's restaurant sector, combining the tradition and expertise of both brands to address new market challenges and opportunities.