Investment Firm Acquires 50% Stake in Cafe Chain Gan Sipur

The acquisition of Gan Sipur, a unique cafe chain operating in several of Israel's parks, has been finalized. The buyer is Lenterra, a private investment firm that recently invested in the restaurant sector by acquiring 20% of Kisu Group, which runs Asian restaurants. Lenterra will pay between 130 and 140 million shekels for a 50% stake in Gan Sipur, with the final amount dependent on the company's performance in 2026. The current owners Assaf Illouz, and Nissim Ben Simon, will retain the remaining 50%. The CEO and co-owner will continue as CEO. The CEO and co-owner stated that the company has faced challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent war, citing rising commodity prices, a lack of tourists, and difficulties in hiring staff. He expressed that Lenterra's investment is a significant vote of confidence and provides momentum for their ambition to become the largest group in the restaurant industry, believing in their substantial potential. For the CEO and co-owner, this deal marks a full circle, recalling his earlier success in the 1990s with Pizza Meter, a novel concept that ultimately failed due to mismanagement and overly rapid expansion, leaving him bankrupt. He rebuilt his success with Gan Sipur. The chain recently opened branches in Ra'anana Park and Yehoshua Gardens and plans to double its number of locations, with new branches slated for Yavne and Ben Shemen Gardens.