Solina looks for European expansion with German acquisition

01-Jun-2020 - Last updated on 01-Jun-2020 at 14:09 GMT

Image: Getty/Natee Meepian

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French supplier Solina has completed the acquisition of German-based Hagesüd, which produces spice blends for the meat processing industry. Solina says the purchase will allow it to expand B2B activity in the German market, and also develop its plant-based meat alternative, Nextera.

For Solina, which makes savoury solutions for the food industry in Europe and is majority-owned by French private investment equity company Ardian, the acquisition of Hagesüd represents a further step in its growth strategy after the acquisition in January 2020 of Canadian dehydrated food and liquids specialist Berthelet.

Solina CEO Anthony Francheterre said: “This acquisition is fully in line with our growth strategy in Germany and will reinforce our position in butcher markets across Europe. With the local team, we will continue developing the strong position of Hagesüd with high-quality products and dedicated customer support, as well as providing innovative solutions which Solina has developed for our other markets (natural ingredients, organic seasonings, meat-substitutes solutions, culinary knowhow, ready-meals…). The two companies have a clear strategic fit and share the same approach to customers: being agile, flexible, service-minded and deliver value-added solutions.”

A Solina spokesperson added that the company, although it has long served the German market through other Solina companies in Europe, will now have its own base to directly serve all German customers.

“The customers of Hagesüd will leverage from Solina’s global expertise, services and new solutions and product portfolios. Solina in turn will have access to wider customer base to strengthen its position in the German market. With 22 factories, of which most in Europe and direct presence in 18 countries, Solina’s geographical position is well spread and represented as well, especially now with Hagesüd joining us,” the spokesperson told FoodNavigator.

They added that the Hagesüd purchase would allow it to develop its plant-based meat alternative brand Nextera.

“Besides the meat/butcher industry, Solina fulfills as well a prominent role in ready meals, snacks and vegetables markets and most promising, the market of new protein foods which Solina serves with Nextera,” we were told.

Solina offers Nextera to food processing companies, including meat processing companies, to ‘guide and assist’ them in creating plant-based food concepts. “Nextera will will obviously be taken into the total offer towards Hagesüd customers,” the spokesperson added.