MergerLinks’ Post

Dutch dairy collective FrieslandCampina has agreed to merge with smaller Belgian rival Milcobel, it said, creating a company with combined revenues of more than €14 billion ($14.66 billion). Betty Eeckhaut, chair of the board of Milcobel, added, “Through our regional complementarity we will become the cooperative dairy partner of choice for current and new members, with a solid milk supply for a successful future." #dairy #merger #Belgium #freshproduce https://lnkd.in/eg37-U5b

Though M&A activity in the #petfoodindustry continues to slow compared to recent years, the industry remains an attractive investment, as evidenced by the numerous deals announced in the last six months of 2024. Some of these biggest deals include: 🤝CopRice’s acquisition of Australian pet food company SavourLife for $13.4 million 🤝 General Mills’ acquisition of Whitebridge Pet Brands’ North American business (known for Tiki Pets and Cloud Star brands) for $1.45 billion 🤝Above Food Ingredients’ acquisition of The Redwood Group’s Specialty Crop Food Ingredient division for $34 million Read more on these #acquisitions and other deals in our M&A recap: https://ow.ly/ECqu50UI0JK #petfood

FRANCE: Loué Chickens conquer the European market By Marie-Josée Cougard Les Echos The LDC group made seven acquisitions in Europe, including two in Poland, in 2024. A record of external growth for the Loué poultry producer, number one in France with a turnover of more than 6 billion euros. LDC has "🐜ants in its pants." 😀. The French leader known for Loué poultry has made seven acquisitions in quick succession in 2024, including four abroad. These acquisitions have the potential to generate an additional turnover of 640 million euros, with half of this coming from outside France. The group says it wants to "widen the gap": a voracious appetite that it has not shown at this level since 2009 when it bought two of its iconic brands, Maître Coq and Marie ready meals, which then totaled 500 million euros. Times have changed, and so have LDC's views on new horizons. Two of the latest acquisitions were in Poland, a market where the group has been present for several years. One in Romania, where from is exported but had no industrial site, and another in Germany, where LDC is newly gaining a foothold. https://lnkd.in/d7dAFXtS #poultryfarming #poultrymeat #poultryindustry

Belgian dairy giants Flanders Food Production (FFP) and Vache Bleue have merged to create the new European Dairy Company, with a combined revenue of nearly half a billion euros. The merger strengthens their position in a competitive market, driving innovation and scale advantages. FFP, known for packaging, slicing, and grating cheese, and Vache Bleue, a specialist in grated cheese and snacks, complement each other geographically and in their product offerings. With strong export capabilities and strategic acquisitions, European Dairy Company is poised for significant growth, backed by recent investments and plans for further expansion. Talent Consulting Team #EuropeanDairyCompany #DairyIndustry #Merger #Innovation #FlandersFoodProduction #VacheBleue #Growth #CheeseProduction

Can the Merger of SPC and OJC Build Success or Simply Delay the Inevitable? The merger of two iconic Australian fruit brands and a rising dairy player sparks the question: Can this union create a pathway to success, or is it just delaying a bigger challenge? Successful mergers strike the balance between leveraging the strengths of both companies to deliver value and market success. But, as we’ve seen before, sometimes the opposite happens and the pitfalls of cultural clashes and operational inefficiencies take centre stage. With Australian fruit brands under pressure from cheap imports, can SPC and OJC unite to protect homegrown brands and jobs? How will they translate synergies and cost savings into profitability. Retailers and consumers will play a critical role in supporting this partnership. All eyes will be on their shelves in the coming months. Wishing the best of luck to both teams as they navigate this journey. This merger will undoubtedly serve as a litmus test for the future of Australian brands in the competitive global marketplace. #AustralianBrands #Merger #FoodIndustry #BusinessStrategy #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gi8hjQXv

FrieslandCampina, #PacificEquityPartners bid for Fonterra’s Australian operations https://lnkd.in/dUCE-HRr #Netherlands #investments #merger #dairyglobal #dairybusiness #businessoperations #dairyglobal #dairyindustry #dairyinsights

[What's up] ALTIOS Corporate Finance advised LDC Groupe on its first acquisition in the German market. 💡 LDC, a family-owned group and one of Europe’s leaders in poultry and catering segments, has acquired the German company European Convenience Food GmbH, which specializes in cooked and frozen processed products, generating €80 million in revenue in 2023. 🎯 The acquisition of European Convenience Food allows LDC to diversify its portfolio by entering the promising segment of frozen poultry and plant-based products, while also gaining a foothold in the German market, Europe’s largest food market. 🤝 🚀 With this transaction, ALTIOS Corporate Finance reaffirms its ability to support clients in complex acquisitions and successfully complete strategic cross-border deals. 🔗 Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/e3zbAFyY Congratulations to the entire LDC team, ALTIOS team and the partners who supported this deal: CMS & Mazars, as well as the Sell-Side M&A Advisor Houlihan Lokey. #foodindustry #crossborder #MergerandAcquisitions #International #SMEs

Merging for a Better Dairy Sector: Torban Burka Ashe Dairy Cooperative Located in Fitche town, Oromia, Torban Burka Ashe Dairy Primary Cooperative was formed in 2023 by merging four local cooperatives (Fitche, Bekelcha Bari, Torban Ashe, and Gende Guda) with support from AGRITERRA & SNV BRIDGE+ project. This strategic merger was driven by the need to consolidate resources and expertise for greater impact. The cooperative has grown rapidly, now with 711 members (including 161 women and 159 youth), and daily milk collection has increased to 19,000-25,000 liters. Thanks to the merger, the cooperative successfully negotiated higher prices for milk, securing 55 ETB per liter, up from 45 ETB, significantly improving farmers' incomes. The cooperative's professional management, including a manager from Selale University, an accountant, and a store manager, ensures efficient operations. Additionally, two yogurt shops were opened in Fitche to provide affordable dairy products to the community. An innovative capital-raising strategy through IC (Internal Capital) mobilization of 7.5 Million ETB has allowed the cooperative to invest in infrastructure, including purchasing a motorbike and truck for milk collection and distribution. The cooperative’s success highlights the transformative power of strategic mergers and is a model for other cooperatives in the region

Did you miss our recent webinar on 'Consolidating milk supply logistics in dairy production'? ➡️(hint - it is even more relevant now given recent merger news in Europe!) We discussed how the dairy landscape is changing when it comes to consolidation and the new opportunities this brings for milk logistics. Watch here >>> https://hubs.ly/Q0305y0j0 #dairyindustry #routeoptimisation #farmtoplant #sustainability #milklogistics #webinar #dairyprocessors #milkhaulage #cooperatives #milkcollection

Solina USA Acquires New Jersey Seasonings Maker Advanced Food Systems, Inc - Food Manufacturing #solina #acquisitions #foodmanufacturing #nj #newjersey #madeintheusa #madeinamerica #usamanufacturing #usmanufacturing https://lnkd.in/esB2cS5d