Global ingredient company, Döhler, has strengthened its presence in the Australian and New Zealand food manufacturing sector with the acquisition of Melbourne-based culinary solutions specialist EzyChef. It marks the next stage in a partnership that has been building over several years.
The deal sees Döhler ANZ integrate EzyChef’s culinary development and ready-to-eat capabilities into its broader ingredient systems and innovation network, expanding the company’s offering across foodservice, retail, and industrial manufacturing channels.
Döhler ANZ managing director, Peter Gates, said the move reflects a broader strategy to deepen its regional manufacturing footprint while combining global ingredient expertise with local production capabilities.
“This acquisition reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared vision for growth. Ezy Chef’s entrepreneurial spirit and culinary excellence align perfectly with Döhler’s innovation-driven approach.
“Together, we will accelerate product development, enhance our manufacturing breadth, from liquid systems to dry and culinary solutions, and provide even greater support to our customers,” Gates said.
Building local manufacturing capability
For Döhler, the acquisition is also part of a broader localisation strategy aimed at strengthening regional supply chains and manufacturing resilience.
Döhler ANZ head of Strategy, Dom Pannia, told Food & Drink Business the EzyChef facility offered significant potential to expand local production capacity.
“The attractive reason for us is that we’ve seen a lot of opportunity with the efficient plant, a lot of extra lines where we could run,” Pannia said, noting that the site provides room to increase production and better serve local customers.
The acquisition also aligns with the company’s broader view that supply chain stability will increasingly depend on local manufacturing capability.
“We believe strongly in localisation, especially with all the issues around the world and the potential impact on supply chains,” Pannia said. “Bringing more manufacturing capability on site locally is an important part of that mission.”
Under the integration plan, Döhler will begin operating from the EzyChef site as part of its network from April, with the facility expected to play a key role in supporting both domestic customers and export opportunities.
A gateway to global markets
Beyond domestic manufacturing, the acquisition may also support export opportunities for Australian-made food products.
Pannia said Döhler’s global network of manufacturing sites and international distribution could provide new pathways for locally developed products.
With more than 50 manufacturing facilities worldwide, the company has the ability to connect Australian innovation with international markets.
“There’s opportunity not just on the local side but also to export what Australia can produce,” he said. “Even though the market is challenging, there are opportunities to take the best products overseas.”
Strengthening the ingredient ecosystem
For the broader food and beverage sector, the deal highlights the increasingly strategic role ingredient and solution providers play in product development.
As manufacturers face pressure to deliver innovation faster while managing cost and supply chain complexity, partnerships with ingredient systems companies are becoming central to the innovation process.
By combining EzyChef’s culinary expertise with Döhler’s global ingredient and technology platform, the company aims to position itself as a comprehensive partner for food manufacturers across Australia and New Zealand.
The acquisition also reinforces Döhler’s commitment to the region, signalling continued investment in local manufacturing capability at a time when supply chain resilience and localisation are becoming key priorities across the industry.
From partnership to integration
The acquisition formalises what both companies describe as a natural evolution of their collaboration.
EzyChef has built a reputation for customised product development and food solutions for manufacturers and foodservice operators. By bringing the business fully into its portfolio, Döhler gains access to culinary formulation capabilities that complement its existing expertise in natural ingredients, beverage systems, flavours and extracts.
The combined business will now be able to offer an expanded range of solutions spanning preparations, purées, juices, flavours, colours, botanical extracts, emulsions and culinary inclusions across multiple packaging formats for industrial and retail customers.
EzyChef director, Gavin Clifford, said joining the global Döhler network provides access to international sourcing and innovation resources.
“Our partnership has demonstrated the strong cultural and strategic fit between our teams. As part of Döhler, we gain access to global resources, expanded capabilities and new market opportunities while continuing to serve our customers with the same dedication and flexibility they value,” Clifford said.
A broader platform for innovation
Döhler already maintains a significant presence in the region, including manufacturing operations in Melbourne and Townsville along with sales offices across Australia and New Zealand.
The addition of EzyChef expands the company’s capabilities beyond ingredients and beverage systems into a broader culinary solutions platform.
This integrated approach reflects a growing trend in food manufacturing where ingredient suppliers increasingly partner with manufacturers earlier in the product development process.
Rather than supplying individual components, companies like Döhler are moving toward end-to-end solution models that combine formulation, ingredients, processing and packaging expertise.
The strategy also positions the company to respond more quickly to emerging trends such as functional ingredients, convenience meals and customised product formats.
