Finnish Valio is taking a new step towards transitioning from a dairy company to a food company.

Valio acquires Raisio plc’s plant protein business, the related fixed assets and the Härkis® and Beanit® fava bean brands. The fixed assets include the production equipment of the factory that makes plant protein products in Kauhava. In connection with the acquisition, 16 employees will transfer to Valio. The sale price is EUR 7 million.

• The food system of the future will include plant-based and animal-based food, as well as food produced by cellular agriculture. All of these are needed to provide enough food for a globally growing population. This is the foundation of Valio’s strategy, which sees us growing from a dairy company into a food company. This business acquisition is one step on our path of growth. A strong and innovative product selection has been Valio’s foundation for 120 years. In addition to milk-based products, we as a food company are now also investing in growth in foods based on other raw materials,” says Valio’s Executive Vice President Tuomas Salusjärvi.

In 2023, Raisio’s plant protein business net sales were EUR 5.5 million. After the business acquisition, Valio will become an even stronger player in the market for plant-based protein products. Valio’s selection of plant-based protein products already includes the Gold&Green® range, which consists of various ready-to-use plant protein products as well as plant protein raw materials for professional kitchens and the food industry.

Read the full press release HERE

Foto: Eniko Torneby, Unsplash