Antell restaurants to keep name after Sodexo acquisition

Antell’s restaurants will continue operating under the same name despite the acquisition of its business by global giant Sodexo, CEO Tomi Lantto told Yle.

Sodexo has signed a share purchase agreement to buy the Oulu-based company’s restaurant operations. Lantto said Sodexo specifically wanted to acquire the Antell brand and maintain its restaurants.

He explained that the decision to sell was driven by Sodexo’s strategy of acquiring premium global brands and preserving them, which offered Antell an opportunity for development under stronger ownership.

“Sodexo sees significant growth potential in us and wants to expand. We will focus on growth and acquire more wonderful restaurants,” Lantto said.

He assured that restaurant names, staff, and daily operations will remain unchanged. “Our skilled personnel will continue their work as before. We’ll keep making food, and the spinach pies will still have rough edges, just like always.”

Lantto will stay on as head of Antell’s operations under Sodexo. The deal still requires regulatory approval, which he expects to take several months. The purchase price remains undisclosed. Antell employs around 270 people across approximately 60 restaurants in Finland.