European investment entity Argos has acquired German bakery chain Kamps from its current owner, Le Duff Group, for an undisclosed amount.

The agreement marks the end of a ten-year period in which the French-based Le Duff Group owned Kamps.

Kamps operates a network of bakery stores primarily situated in high-traffic locations.

It currently has 340 outlets across Germany and the Netherlands and has 3.5 million customer visits each month. Around 98% of these shops are run by 240 independent franchise partners.

Completion of the deal is subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Argos has been assembling a bakery platform in Germany since it bought Bäckerei Schmidt in 2024.

That business has grown through both organic expansion and additional acquisitions, and now operates around 90 sites in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.

Following the integration of Kamps, Argos will oversee a bakery group comprising more than 400 locations nationwide and is setting up a new group structure as part of the deal.

Overall responsibility for the enlarged bakery network will rest with Marc Kranz, who is to become group CEO.

Bäckerei Schmidt will continue to be managed by its current managing director, Martin Manski.

Kamps managing director Katharina Keil will stay in charge of the company and continue to steer its development together with the current management.

Kranz said: “With our investment in Kamps, we are laying the foundations for building a leading bakery group in Germany. Kamps is a strong, well-recognised brand with an excellent nationwide footprint.

“Combined with the strengths of traditional regional businesses such as Bäckerei Schmidt, we will continue to develop the group in a targeted manner and unlock additional growth potential.”