Sky Private Equity Acquires 50% Stake in Israeli Catering Giant Le-Bar
Sky Private Equity has acquired a 50% stake in Israeli catering giant Le-Bar in a deal valuing the family business at up to NIS 400 million. The transaction was brokered by investment firm Exodus, co-founded by comedian Eli Yatzpan.
Sky Private Equity has acquired a 50% stake in Le-Bar Catering, a prominent Israeli food services company, in a transaction valuing the business at approximately NIS 350 to 400 million. The deal, which was finalized following negotiations mediated by comedian Eli Yatzpan and Or Bismuth through their investment banking firm Exodus, marks a major milestone for the family-owned enterprise.
Founded decades ago as a small buffet in Kiryat Gat by Miri and Jacob Yifrach, serving home-style meals to soldiers and travelers, the business has evolved into a major industrial operation. For the past eight years, the company has been managed by the founders' sons, Liel and Bar Yifrach. Today, Le-Bar employs approximately 1,500 people and generates an annual revenue of around NIS 400 million, supplying daily meals to major industrial clients, technology firms, and state institutions.
Industrial Scale and Major Clients
Le-Bar's client roster includes prominent private companies such as Intel, Osem, Electra, Shufersal, and Mayer Group, alongside public entities like the Ministry of Defense, the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, and the Israel Prison Service. A significant turning point in the company's expansion occurred in 2017 when it took over catering operations for Camp Dudi, serving tens of thousands of meals daily.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented severe operational hurdles as corporate offices and mess halls closed down overnight. In response, the management revamped its culinary strategies and accelerated technological integration, incorporating business intelligence systems and artificial intelligence tools to optimize logistics across its central food production plant in Kiryat Gat and numerous client-site kitchens.
Investment and Future Growth
Under the terms of the transaction, Sky Private Equity—founded in 2005 and managed by Zvi Yochman and Nir Dagan—injected fresh capital to support future growth while purchasing a portion of the shares from the Yifrach family. Day-to-day management remains under the leadership of Liel and Bar Yifrach.
Investment firm Exodus, led by chairman Eli Yatzpan and chief investment banker Or Bismuth, orchestrated the matchmaking for the deal. While official commission figures were not disclosed, market estimates indicate the advisory role could yield substantial financial returns for the founders of Exodus, reflecting the growing trend of institutional investment in traditional Israeli family businesses.
