French food co-op Eureden has announced the sale of a majority stake in charcuterie business André Bazin to local peer Arcado.
According to a statement from Eureden—known for brands like D’aucy and Paysan Breton—the collaboration aims to drive growth in “high-quality” regional charcuterie while expanding operations both upstream and downstream. Financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed.
André Bazin excels in charcuterie, supplying primarily to manufacturers and foodservice clients. In contrast, Arcado, located in Franche-Comté, specializes in producing regional charcuterie for supermarkets.
Dany Rochefort, president of Eureden, remarked: “With these shared values and strong complementarities, this solid project fits into the strategy of the meat division of the Eureden group, while ensuring the long-term future of the Bazin company perfectly and its employees.”
Eureden emphasizes that this deal is poised to enhance supply chains linked to upstream producers, particularly pig farmers within the cooperative.
The transaction aims to “ensure the long-term viability” of André Bazin. Management will remain in the Franche-Comté region, with production facilities continuing to operate while “balancing” customer distribution across supermarkets, hypermarkets, the foodservice sector, and industrial clients.
For Arcado, this agreement aligns with its strategy of organic growth, establishing a robust platform for SMEs, according to the statement.
The companies plan to finalize the deal early next year, awaiting competition clearance.
Arcado produces PGI and Label Rouge cured meats and charcuterie. The company consists of five businesses, employs 350 full-time staff, and achieved a turnover of €116m ($133.4m) last year.
André Bazin became a wholly owned subsidiary of Eureden last year, following a prior investment in 2021.
The company, employing 363 staff, processes over 21,000 tons of cured meats, charcuterie, and cooked meats annually, with a turnover of €120m last year.
Eureden formed through the merger of the D’aucy and Triskalia cooperatives, a process underway since 2017 and completed in 2020 after certain asset disposals.
Currently, the cooperative boasts 17,000 farmer members and employs 8,000 individuals across 40 sites, including operations in Spain, Germany, and Hungary.
In the most recent fiscal year, group turnover was €3.8bn ($4.45bn), slightly down from €3.9bn in the previous year.
Last month, the European Commission referred a proposed joint venture between Eureden and frozen vegetable supplier Greenyard to France’s competition authority, the Autorité de la Concurrence.
In March, Belgium-headquartered Greenyard announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Gelagri Bretagne, a fellow frozen vegetables group in France.
Brittany-based Gelagri Bretagne, also owned by Eureden, produces ready meals, soups, and purées.