Food News

As part of its restructuring, VION has begun the process of selling its sites in Crailsheim and Waldkraiburg.

The market in southern Germany continues to undergo change and is becoming increasingly consolidated. The Crailsheim site is set to be transferred to Boeser Frischfleisch GmbH, and the Waldkraiburg site to OSI Europe Foodworks GmbH, provided there are no competition law concerns. The future of other VION Group sites could also be under review as part of a strategic realignment. Operations in Crailsheim (beef and pork) are set to be transferred to Boeser Frischfleisch GmbH, which is active in meat cutting. In Crailsheim, just under 600 employees were most recently working in slaughtering (approx. 1 million pigs and 95,000 cattle per year). They can expect to receive a takeover offer.

The Waldkraiburg site is set to be transferred to OSI Europe Foodworks GmbH, an internationally active food company serving customers in the catering and retail sectors. The takeover of the plant is intended to open up new markets for the company. Approximately 340 employees work at the beef slaughterhouse. According to the negotiators, the planned transactions are not expected to have any adverse effects on existing supply chains and customer relationships. VION is already planning further consolidation in Germany. The cattle site in Buchloe is also under discussion, and there appear to be interested parties for it. The planned transactions form part of VION’s strategic realignment announced in June 2024, with a stronger focus on the Benelux region. They create scope for further investment in sustainability and high-value-added sectors within the Benelux region, whilst securing the future of the German sites under new ownership.

Author: Dr Frank Mörsberger, AGROLAB GROUP