German food conglomerate Pfeifer & Langen has acquired a majority stake in local sausage and plant-based meat business Rügenwalder Mühle. Both companies have expanded their portfolios to include plant-based meat alternative products. The deal, instigated by Rügenwalder Mühle, is subject to the approval of the German competition authority.
Rügenwalder Mühle, a family business based in Lower Saxony, has transformed from a traditional sausage maker to a producer of 25 meat and sausage products and around 30 vegetarian and vegan alternatives. Christian Rauffus, deputy chairman of the company’s supervisory board, stated: “In less than ten years we have brought vegetarian and vegan meat alternatives out of the niche and into the centre of society. By participating in this deal, we want to take advantage of the opportunity to further develop the portfolio, especially beyond the German market.”
Pfeifer & Langen’s managing partner, Uwe Schöneberg, highlighted the potential to leverage mutual strengths and develop plant-based meat alternatives, suggesting that “our consistent thinking and actions [will] allow the still young category to further develop plant-based meat alternatives.”
Known for its sales of €1.33bn ($1.45bn) in 2022, Pfeifer & Langen is also involved in other food categories and owns the Intersnack Group. It also has a stake in UK vegan business VBites. A recent study also revealed that more than half of Europeans are reducing their meat consumption, signaling a shift in consumer trends in the food and beverage industry.
