JBS has entered into an agreement to purchase Vivera, Europe's third-largest plant-based food producer, for €341 million.
Vivera develops and produces a broad range of innovative plant-based meat replacement products for major retailers in over 25 countries across Europe, with relevant marketshare in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany. The deal includes three manufacturing units and a research and development center located in The Netherlands.
The acquisition of Vivera strengthens and boosts JBS' global plant-based products platform. Strong growth is expected in this category throughout global markets. The deal will add a brand to JBS' portfolio that is well-established in consumer preference, strengthening the Company's focus on value-added products.
Vivera, currently the largest independent plant-based company in Europe, will join other JBS initiatives such as Seara's, Incrível range, a market leader in plant-based hamburgers, and Planterra, with the OZO brand in the United States.
"This acquisition is an important step to strengthen our global plant-based protein platform," says Gilberto Tomazoni, Global CEO of JBS. "Vivera will give JBS a stronghold in the plant-based sector, with technological knowledge and capacity for innovation".
To nurture its entrepreneurial spirit JBS plans to manage Vivera as a standalone business unit with its current leadership team to remain in place.
"Joining forces with JBS gives us access to significant resources and capabilities to accelerate our current strong growth trajectory and Vivera brand expansion," says Willem van Weede, CEO, Vivera.
The deal was approved by the JBS board of directors and will be concluded after approval by the antitrust authorities.
About JBS
JBS is the world's second-largest food company and the largest in animal protein. With a global platform diversified by geography and type of products (poultry, pork, beef and lamb), the Company has over 245,000 employees in production units and offices on all continents, in countries like Brazil, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China, among others.
About Vivera Foodgroup
Vivera has been a pioneer in the development of vegetarian and plant-based meal components since 1990. The company with almost 400 employees with headquarters and 3 production sites in the Netherlands has since grown into one of the three largest producers in Europe.
