Retail Holding and Améthis Acquire Overseas Catering Services in Morocco and Senegal
Acquisition Overview
Retail Holding, alongside its long-term partner Améthis, has successfully acquired Overseas Catering Services (OCS), a prominent entity in the business services sector established in 2009. OCS has made a name for itself in collective catering in Morocco through its subsidiaries, Ansamble and Proxirest.
Since 2023, OCS has diversified its operations by entering the facility management market via its subsidiaries Artis in Morocco and Alizés in Senegal. The company boasts an annual revenue exceeding one billion dirhams and employs around 6,000 staff across more than 220 locations throughout Morocco.
Leadership and Growth
Under the leadership of Nicolas Belleteste, who has been at the helm since 2023, OCS has experienced significant growth, doubling its business volume with the support of Adenia and Proparco. This acquisition positions Retail Holding as a key player in both the collective catering and facility management sectors.
Retail Holding plans to leverage its logistical expertise, extensive territorial presence, and multidisciplinary human capital to harness the growth potential in the coming years.
Market Dynamics and Strategic Intent
The expansion of strategic industrial sectors in Morocco, characterized by an increase in manufacturing and assembly sites, along with a growing demand for private education and healthcare services, has led to a natural outsourcing trend for catering and general services.
Retail Holding aims to address this trend with its robust deployment capabilities and operational excellence recognized by both institutional and private clients.
Statements from Leadership
Riad Laissaoui, CEO of Retail Holding, emphasized that this acquisition aligns perfectly with their external growth strategy, which focuses on entering high-potential markets through the acquisition of established companies with solid foundations, creating numerous synergy opportunities and increasing business volume.
Wilfried Poyet, Senior Partner at Améthis, expressed enthusiasm about this 16th investment in Morocco, highlighting the shared ambitious vision for OCS with Nicolas Belleteste and his team.
Stéphane Bacquaert, Managing Partner at Adenia, noted that OCS exemplifies their active investment approach, supporting regional African leaders through a structured transition from its founder, while reinforcing the management team to enhance OCS's market position.
Belleteste concluded by thanking Adenia and Proparco for their constructive support, stating that this operation marks a new chapter for OCS as they look forward to collaborating with their new shareholders to sustain growth and solidify their leadership in Morocco and Senegal.
Regulatory Approval
The completion of this acquisition is subject to approval from the relevant competition regulatory authorities.
Retail Holding's Market Position
Retail Holding is recognized as a national leader in food and specialized distribution, holding significant stakes in Label Vie SA (Carrefour, Atacadao, Supéco) and owning brands such as Kiabi, Burger King, and Virgin Megastore in Morocco.
