French coffee maker Les Cafés Folliet has acquired compatriot and former Unilever subsidiary Tropico, which produces the fruit juice of the same name.

Following the purchase, Folliet has now doubled in size, with turnover set to rise to around €65m. It has also considerably strengthened its position in the breakfast drinks segment, Tropico having one of France's leading powdered chocolate drink brands, Choky, in its portfolio.

Unilever acquired Tropico in 1999 as a vehicle for the development of its Lipton Ice Tea brand in France. However, following a difficult period in 2002, the company was the object of a leveraged buy-out.