Munch Expands into Romania with Bonapp Merger
Deal News | Feb 12, 2025 | EIN
Munch, a B2C food surplus marketplace, has merged with Bonapp to tackle food waste in Romania and expand further into Central and Eastern Europe. Co-founded by Kirill Perepelica and others in 2020, Munch operates in Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Romania. Bonapp, a similar initiative, was launched in 2021 in Romania by Grgoire Vigroux, Diego Roy de Lachaise, and Luka Zivkovic. The merger aims to leverage the cooperative spirit and shared goals of both companies to combat food waste. Their business model connects consumers with HoReCa operators and retailers to offer surplus food at discounts. With an expansion plan targeting Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, and Slovenia, Romania is seen as a key market due to its e-commerce growth. Munch's strategy includes offering surprise food packages to ease operational logistics, while evaluating Bonapp's approach of specifying package contents. Future plans include expanding their Munch Market pilot, aimed at resolving surplus issues within the supply chain. The combined entity will focus on retail partnerships to enhance food-saving options across Romania.
Sectors
- E-commerce
- Sustainability & Environment
- Food & Beverage
Geography
- Romania – The article highlights Romania as a strategic and attractive market due to its size and growth in e-commerce, with plans for nationwide coverage.
- Eastern Europe – Countries like Slovakia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria are key regions for the company's expansion.
- Hungary – Munch was founded in Hungary and operates in the Central European region, including Hungary as a primary market.
Industry
- E-commerce – The merger involves companies dealing with food surplus through online platforms, directly engaging consumers via e-commerce practices.
- Sustainability & Environment – The primary mission of both Munch and Bonapp revolves around reducing food waste, aligning with sustainability and environmental objectives.
- Food & Beverage – Both companies focus on the food and beverage industry by connecting consumers with retailers to acquire surplus food products.
Financials
- EUR 7 million – Combined projected turnover for 2024 by the merged Munch and Bonapp entity.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munch | Merging Company | Company | A B2C food surplus marketplace founded in Hungary, focused on reducing food waste in Central and Eastern Europe. |
| Bonapp | Target Company | Company | A food waste reduction initiative started in Romania, offering similar services to Munch, now merging to expand operations. |
| Kirill Perepelica | Co-founder & Chief Expansion Officer | Person | Co-founder of Munch, focusing on the company's expansion and strategy in entering new markets. |
| Grgoire Vigroux | Co-founder | Person | Co-founder of Bonapp, part of the team that launched the food waste reduction initiative in Romania. |
| Penny | Retail Partner | Company | A key retail partner in Romania, crucial for Munch's strategy to expand food-saving opportunities nationwide. |