Israeli Catering Firm 'Li Bar' Co-Owned by Actor Sold for $50 Million
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
The Israeli catering company "Li Bar," founded by Masudi Yifrah, has sold a 50% stake to the Sky investment fund for 200 million shekels. The company, which started as a small canteen for soldiers over 35 years ago, now employs 1,500 people and has an annual turnover of 400 million shekels. Actor Eli Yatzpan served as an intermediary in the deal, which values the company between 350 and 400 million shekels. This investment reflects a growing trend of capital funds entering the food service industry.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- "Li Bar" catering company sold 50% stake for 200 million shekels to Sky fund.
- The company was founded by Masudi Yifrah, who started with a canteen for soldiers.
- "Li Bar" employs 1,500 people and has an annual turnover of 400 million shekels.
- Actor Eli Yatzpan acted as an intermediary in the deal.
- The investment reflects a trend of funds entering the catering business.
Masudi Yifrah, who began by serving schnitzel to soldiers in Kiryat Gat, has seen her company "Li Bar" partially sold for 200 million shekels (approximately $50 million). The deal, announced Monday, October 26, involves the sale of a 50% stake in the catering company to the Sky investment fund, led by Zvi Yuchman. Yifrah, now 86, immigrated from Marrakech in the 1950s and started a small canteen for soldiers, which grew into a large family catering business.
Her son, Yehuda Yifrah, told Ynet that his mother's cooking skills were the foundation of the business, which is now managed by his brother and nephews. "Li Bar" employs 1,500 people and has an annual turnover of about 400 million shekels. The company supplies food to major corporations like Intel and "Elbit," as well as the Electric Company, and also serves the IDF and "Osem."
The Sky fund's investment values "Li Bar" between 350 and 400 million shekels. Half of the 200 million shekel payment will go to the company, and the other half to the Yifrah family. Actor and comedian Eli Yatzpan acted as an intermediary in the deal, along with his partner Or Bismut, and is expected to receive millions in commissions.
"Li Bar" is part of the "Shevet Achim" group, also headed by Yehuda Yifrah, which owns the Dream Island resort and is developing a luxury hotel in Ashkelon, among other real estate and hospitality assets. For Sky, this marks its first investment in the catering sector, seeing significant growth potential in the company.
This acquisition aligns with a broader trend of investment firms increasing their involvement in the food and catering industry over the past two years, with other funds like Leumi Partners and Lantern previously investing in restaurant chains.
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