World's Largest Meat Producer Buys Plant-Based Food Maker Vivera

JBS, the world's largest protein company and second-largest food producer, has acquired  Vivera, Europe's third-largest plant-based food produced, for an enterprise value of €341 million.

Vivera develops and produces a broad range of plant-based meat alternatives for major retailers in over 25 countries across Europe, with relevant marketshare in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany. The deal includes three manufacturing units and a research and development centre located in The Netherlands. Vivera product portfolio includes vegan burgers, plant-based mince, vegan nuggets and sausages. 

The acquisition of Vivera strengthens and boosts JBS' global plant-based products platform. Strong growth is expected in this category throughout global markets. The deal will add a brand to JBS' portfolio that is well-established in consumer preference, strengthening the Company's focus on value-added products.

Vivera, currently the largest independent plant-based company in Europe, will join other JBS initiatives such as Seara's, Incrível range, a market leader in plant-based hamburgers, and Planterra, with the OZO brand in the United States.

"This acquisition is an important step to strengthen our global plant-based protein platform", said Gilberto Tomazoni, Global CEO of JBS. "Vivera will give JBS a stronghold in the plant-based sector, with technological knowledge and capacity for innovation".

JBS plans to manage Vivera as a standalone business unit with its current leadership team to remain in place.

"Joining forces with JBS gives us access to significant resources and capabilities to accelerate our current strong growth trajectory and Vivera brand expansion", said Willem van Weede, CEO, Vivera.

JBS is the world's second-largest food company and the largest in animal protein. The company has over 245,000 employees in production units and offices on all continents, in countries like Brazil, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China, among others. In Brazil, there are over 145,000 employees, making the company one of the country's largest private employers.