THE Tonbridge office of Vantis Corporate Finance has risen to the occasion by handling the BIMBO sale of a specialist bakery firm.

La Pizza Company has been bought by a buy-in management buy-out (BIMBO) team in a deal that secures the future of the company’s 17 employees.

La Pizza, established in 1993 and based in Midhurst, Sussex, manufactures part baked pizzas, dough balls and related foods for restaurants, schools, takeaways and hotels across the UK, including Kent.

Aim-listed Vantis introduced a number of potential buyers before helping the retiring partners Pietro and Rachel Vitolo to decide that the buy-in buy-out team led by Richard Jansen offered the best future for the business and its staff.

Vantis director Colin Harvey, based in Tonbridge, said: "We enjoyed working with Pietro and firmly believe the business is in good hands going forward."