Apollo-Backed Investment Signals Growing Appetite for European Fresh Food Distribution

In a significant move within European retail, Apollo Global Management is making a substantial bet on France’s fresh food sector. The investment vehicle has secured a majority stake in Prosol Group, a leading French retailer specializing in fresh produce distribution, acquiring the holding from private equity firm Ardian.

The Prosol Platform: A Dominant Retail Footprint

Prosol operates an extensive network of approximately 450 stores across France under two distinct retail banners. Grand Frais represents the company’s primary banner, focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and fish offerings. Complementing this is Fresh., a wholly owned chain that rounds out the portfolio with comparable fresh food categories including meat products. This dual-banner strategy has positioned Prosol as a category leader in the French fresh food distribution market.

Apollo’s Retail Strategy in Europe

The investment underscores Apollo Global Management’s commitment to the European retail landscape. Alex van Hoek, Lead Partner for European Private Equity at Apollo, emphasized the strategic rationale: “Prosol represents a clear category leader in fresh food retail, with a powerful customer proposition and outstanding sourcing model. The company’s expertise in sourcing fresh fish and produce demonstrates the operational excellence that attracted our investment.”

Growth and Expansion Vision

What makes this transaction particularly noteworthy is the reinvestment commitment from Prosol’s existing shareholders and management team, signaling confidence in the company’s growth trajectory. The deal structure demonstrates Apollo’s preference for alignment with incumbent stakeholders when pursuing operational improvements.

The transaction is slated to close during the second quarter of 2026. Following completion, Apollo plans to leverage its extensive retail industry expertise to support the management team’s expansion initiatives, both within France and into international markets. The commitment to preserving Prosol’s distinctive brand identity—particularly the customer loyalty built around its fresh food sourcing capabilities—reflects a hands-on approach to portfolio management rather than a pure financial engineering play.

This investment reflects broader trends in private equity’s approach to European retail, particularly in essential categories like fresh food distribution where consumer demand remains resilient.