DENMARK- Belgium’s United Petfood has taken a significant step in its global expansion strategy with the acquisition of Vital Petfood Group (VPG) in Denmark, marking the company’s entry into the Nordic region.
The move is in line with United Petfood’s planned growth strategy, positioning itself as a leading player in the pet food industry.
Founded in 1997, VPG operates a production facility in Ølgod, Denmark, specializing in the manufacturing of dry and semi-moist food for cats and dogs. While the financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, the deal is subject to approval by Danish competition officials.
United Petfood expressed confidence in the acquisition, highlighting the strategic benefits it brings to the company’s production network. The move allows United Petfood to enhance flexibility and bring production closer to customers in the Nordics.
The company sees the acquisition as an opportunity to leverage VPG’s strong position in the Nordics, particularly in the Danish market.
Mika Holappa, CEO of Nordic Pet Care Group, the owner of VPG, explained the decision to divest, stating, “There has been a lot of consolidation within the pet food production industry during the recent years. We wanted to find a new owner to continue developing our pet food production in the long run.”
Holappa expressed confidence in United Petfood, citing its European customer footprint and extensive experience in operating multiple pet food production sites.
Approximately 50 employees from VPG are expected to transfer to United Petfood as part of the acquisition. This move follows United Petfood’s recent acquisition of De Haan Petfood in the Netherlands, a producer of wet dog and cat food, demonstrating the company’s commitment to strategic growth in the European pet food market.
This marks United Petfood’s second acquisition within a month, building on its previous acquisitions of pet food facilities in Poland and Hungary from Cargill in December 2022 and a factory in southwest France from Neodis Group.
United Petfood continues to position itself as a key player in the global pet food industry, expanding its presence and capabilities through strategic acquisitions that complement its existing portfolio.
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