Brazilian food processing giant JBS Group has agreed to acquire Vivera, a Netherlands-based plant-based food producer, for €341 million.

Vivera is engaged in developing and producing a variety of plant-based meat replacement products. The company caters to major retailers in more than 25 European countries, and is said to have a relevant market share in The Netherlands, Germany, and the UK.

As part of the deal, JBS Group will also acquire three manufacturing units of the plant-based food producer along with a research and development center in The Netherlands.

JBS Group said that the acquisition of Vivera consolidates and boosts its global plant-based products platform.

Currently, claimed to be the largest independent plant-based producer in Europe, Vivera will join other initiatives of JBS such as Seara’s Incrível range of plant-based hamburgers and Planterra’s OZO brand in the US.

Commenting on JBS acquisition of Vivera, Gilberto Tomazoni – Global CEO of JBS said: “This acquisition is an important step to strengthen our global plant-based protein platform.

“Vivera will give JBS a stronghold in the plant-based sector, with technological knowledge and capacity for innovation.”

The Brazilian food processing giant said that it intends to manage Vivera as an independent business unit with its existing leadership team to be retained.

Willem van Weede – CEO of Vivera, commenting on JBS acquisition of Vivera, said: “Joining forces with JBS gives us access to significant resources and capabilities to accelerate our current strong growth trajectory and Vivera brand expansion.”

JBS acquisition of Vivera will be finalized after getting approval from the antitrust authorities.

  Brazil, Food acquisition news, Gilberto Tomazoni, JBS Group, The Netherlands, Vivera, Willem van Weede