So Mochi Joins Onoré Group and Enhances its High-End Specialty Food Offering

Paris, 28 June 2024 – Onoré, an international group with over €200 million sales, announces the acquisition of French mochi specialist So Mochi, whose products are mainly sold to premium HORECA customers. This strategic acquisition is part of the group’s expansion, bolstering its high-end specialty food portfolio under the guidance of Waterland Private Equity. This marks Onoré’s fourth acquisition.

Mochi, a rapidly growing frozen product specialty, is known for its unique, exotic, and easy-to-enjoy qualities.

Founded in 2017 in La Ciotat by Julien Biondo and Jonathan Stioui, So Mochi embodies the elegance and prestige of Japanese fine pastries. The company has successfully combined French artisanal ice cream expertise with traditional Asian rice paste craftsmanship, becoming one of the top five players in this segment and a premium mochi brand in France and Europe.

Committed to product excellence, all flavors are guaranteed free of artificial colors, with a majority of gluten-free products, with a vegan range, and sourcing focused on local suppliers for raw materials. So Mochi produces over 70,000 mochis daily, distributed through its two brands: “Mochiri” for HORECA customers and “La Compagnie du Mochi” for retail.

With the addition of So Mochi, Onoré offers a new product to its demanding customers, seeking intense, exotic, and natural flavors.

This acquisition follows Onoré’s previous acquisitions of Mag’M, a French macaron specialist, Proper Cornish, renowned for traditional pasties in England, and Cakesmiths, a leading supplier to independent coffee shops in the UK, starting from early 2023.

Onoré continues to experience strong growth driven by its blend of artisanal and innovative culinary specialties (macarons, lemon meringue tarts, Basque cake, carrot cake, Cornish pasties, cinnamon buns, mini croque-monsieurs, etc.), highly valued by consumers in search of authenticity and craftsmanship in France, the UK, and internationally – notably in Japan and the United States.

“The integration of So Mochi marks a strategic milestone in our development within the high-end specialty food sector, supported by Waterland. Frozen mochi is a new and rapidly growing product category. I am thrilled to welcome this prestigious and innovative aspect of Asian culture into our portfolio. As a leading French manufacturer, So Mochi is a valued partner who shares our Group’s values and passion!” Alexandre Vigneron, CEO of Onoré.

“We are particularly excited to join Onoré to embark on an ambitious gastronomic journey together. The group’s strong presence in France and international networks, where we already generate a significant portion of our revenue, will greatly accelerate our growth and introduce frozen mochi to new consumers worldwide.” Julien Biondo, CEO of So Mochi.

About Onoré
Onoré aims to be the leading manufacturer of high-end specialty food focused on pastry and frozen snacks. Following a year supported by Waterland, Onoré achieves over €200 million in revenue with production sites in France and the UK and global distribution.

About So Mochi
So Mochi is an entrepreneurial adventure born in 2017 after a trip to Japan by its two cofounders. The group offers a premium selection of frozen mochi, a Japanese gastronomy specialty with 100% homemade ice cream and a delicately sweet traditional rice paste. Today, So Mochi is the specialist in “out-of-home” consumption. It produces over 100,000 mochis every day for professional caterers and consumers around the world.

Press Contacts
Camille Billiemaz | waterland@the-arcane.com | +33 6 31 58 82 37
Laurence Van Doosselaere | vandoosselaere@waterland.be | +32 479 77 57 68