Jefferies starts Lotus Bakeries at 'buy' on 'third-largest cookie brand' aim

** Jefferies initiates Belgian snack maker Lotus Bakeries LOTB.BR at "buy" on management's aim to develop Biscoff into the "world's third-largest cookie brand"

** It calls the firm "one of Europe's fastest-growing consumer compounders", as it notes Biscoff's revenue growth accelerated in H1 2026

** Growth will be supported by a €500 million ($573.90 million) capacity expansion programme, rising household penetration in the United States and geographic expansion, the brokerage notes

** Jefferies adds an asset-light partnership with Mondelez that focuses on co-branded products will aid expansion in new markets such as India and Brazil

** It flags successful diversification into Natural Foods, which represents 25% of the group's revenue, creates a second growth engine, expecting investors to view Lotus as a broader branded snacking platform

** Among the 12 analysts covering Lotus Bakeries, five rate the stock "strong buy" or "buy," ​six rate "hold" and one rates the stock "sell" - LSEG data

($1 = 0.8712 euros)