Vion is preparing to sell one of its pig slaughterhouses in the Netherlands as shrinking volumes reduce the need for processing capacity in the company’s home market.
The meat processor said recently that it is looking for an unnamed “third party” to acquire its Apeldoorn facility.
If the deal is completed, production will be transferred to Vion’s other Dutch sites, including Boxtel, Groenlo and Scherpenzeel. The company expects the relocation to take place before the end of this year.
Around 300 employees work at the Apeldoorn plant. Vion said it is assessing opportunities to move staff to other operations and has pledged to “actively support” those affected by the planned disposal.
The business is also preparing a formal social plan in consultation with labour unions.
Vion said the sale would protect “continuity” for customers and suppliers as the Dutch pig farming industry continues to contract.
“As a result of government measures, among other factors, the number of pigs in the Netherlands is declining,” it said, adding: “Consequently, the available volumes are decreasing and Vion has more production capacity than necessary.”
The Dutch divestment follows a series of disposals in Germany, forming part of Vion’s wider “strategic realignment” focused on its Benelux markets.
In June, Vion divested its foodservice business to the Group of Butchers. The deal covered Vion Food Service Holding, Salomon FoodWorld and the German production facilities in Großostheim and Holzwickede. The division supplies frozen pork, beef and poultry products to commercial catering and foodservice customers.
In May, the company agreed to sell its Buchloe abattoir in Germany to Irish meat processor ABP Food Group.
The previous month, Vion reached agreements to dispose of its Waldkraiburg and Crailsheim sites. Boeser Frischfleisch acquired the Waldkraiburg facility, while OSI Europe Foodworks agreed to take over the Crailsheim operation.
Regulatory obstacles led to the permanent closure of Vion’s deboning plant in Hilden in January, resulting in the loss of 160 jobs.
A sales process is also continuing for Best Hides, Vion’s German hide-processing business.
