Tulip Food Company, a subsidiary of huge pork processor Danish Crown, bought the business, which has 25 staff, to enhance production of its luxury pâté ranges.
Tjæreborg Leverpostej, based in Bramming, south-west Denmark, will continue to operate as its own company, but will benefit from the market and consumer insight Tulip Food Company has gained by selling meat to 120 countries.
The newly acquired company has also been told to maintain a focus on new product development and innovation within the niche field of high-end pâté.
‘Better opportunities’
Currently, Tjæreborg manufactures a range of liver pâtés for leading supermarket chains in Denmark, producing both organic and non-organic foodstuffs. Tulip Food Company also produces pâté at its Aabenraa factory.
“We have a well-functioning liver pâté production in Aabenraa, but with the acquisition of Tjæreborg Leverpostej we will have even better opportunities to produce the specialised niche products and delicacy ranges that the market demands,” said Tulip Food Company CEO Kasper Lenbroch.
“Liver pâté is a very traditional Danish category, where we want to be the preferred supplier, and Tjæreborg is a dedicated liver pâté producer with a focus on craftsmanship, innovation and passion. We look forward to welcoming Tjæreborg Leverpostej and their knowledgeable staff to the Tulip family.”
A ‘strong team’
Plant director and majority Tjæreborg shareholder Karsten Engebæk said he was “delighted” with the deal, adding he was “looking forward to an exciting, strong and robust future”. Engebæk described Tulip Food Company as “a very strong team”.
Tulip Food Company’s takeover of Tjæreborg comes as parent company Danish Crown presses forward with a strategy to expand in northern Europe and boost core product sales in China. This strategy to move the company closer to the end-consumer has seen Danish Crown acquire four companies this year: German slaughterhouse Teterower Fleisch, UK foodservice firm Leivers Brothers, Chark-Produkter in Sweden, and Slagter Munch in Denmark.
Danish Crown also divested its American subsidiary Plumrose USA to beleaguered Brazilian meatpacker JBS for $230m (€204m).