The Hilton Food Group has finalized a deal to transfer Dalco Food to Livekindly Production for £5.4 million.
Dalco will be integrated into Livekindly’s roster of plant-based brands, which includes notable names such as Fry’s, Oumph!, and LIKE.
This move comes after a challenging period for Dalco under the auspices of Hilton Foods. The group’s latest yearly report indicated ongoing difficulties within the vegan and vegetarian sector, revealing an adjusted operating loss of £2 million for the first half of 2026.
The group also mentioned that similar tough conditions affected its UK seafood arm, Seachill, and its smoked salmon business, Foppen.
The divestiture of Dalco aligns with Hilton’s strategy to concentrate more on its meat and fresh prepared food divisions, which have been key drivers of the group’s overall “stable” demand.
As part of this strategic redirection, the company has introduced two new chief operating officer roles, aimed at enhancing the focus on these business units within its newly created West and East regions. Samy Zekhout and Melaine Chambers have been assigned to lead West and East, respectively.
While the group is prioritizing its core business segments, it also plans to seek ways to enhance the performance and value of its seafood, vegan, and vegetarian divisions as it progresses.
The transaction involving Dalco is contingent upon standard approvals and necessary consultations with the local works council.
Dalco is anticipated to be classified as an asset held for sale in the group’s interim results for 2026, which are scheduled for announcement on September 3, 2026.
