Plukon Food Group, a leading Netherlands-based poultry company, has successfully acquired the local vegan and vegetarian business Vega Insiders.
While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the move is a strategic fit in Plukon’s ongoing diversification efforts.
In the statement announcing the transaction, Plukon Food Group CEO Kees Kraijenoord stated: “This acquisition fits perfectly within our strategy. Plukon has been working on alternative protein concepts for years.”
Further, he elaborated, “Plukon Food Group has long wanted to have a dedicated vega(n) production location. With this acquisition, that ambition becomes reality and we can actually scale up within a fully plant-based environment.”
Vega Insiders, part of the Zilverwerf Group, specializes in a range of fresh and frozen products including vegan minced meat, bacon, and cheese bites, catering to both retail and foodservice sectors.
Operating from a modern facility in Udenhout, Vega Insiders employs 18 dedicated staff members.
According to Vega Insiders founder and Zilverwerf Groep owner Mart Beniers, “After years of building Vega Insiders, I was looking for a future-proof place for the company.”
He went on to express confidence in the acquisition, saying, “In Plukon, I found a partner with the same mentality: enterprising, realistic, and with knowledge of the market. There was an immediate click, and that gives me the confidence that Vega Insiders is in good hands.”
Vega Insiders will maintain its brand identity as part of the Plukon Food Group, preserving its commitment to vegan innovation.
All employees will be retained, ensuring continuity of the company’s expertise in vegan product development, as Plukon Food Group noted.
As a major meat product supplier, Plukon Food Group operates across 40 locations in seven European countries.
In 2024, the company recorded a turnover of €3.4 billion ($3.87 billion) and employed around 11,000 people.
Earlier this year, Plukon Food Group acquired the Spanish family-owned poultry business Grupo Avícola Hidalgo.
Additionally, the business has expanded through a series of acquisitions in 2024, including HKScan’s Danish unit and Polish peer Algas.
