Valio acquires Raisio plc’s plant protein business, the related fixed assets and the Härkis® and Beanit® fava bean brands. The fixed assets include the production equipment of the factory that makes plant protein products in Kauhava. In connection with the acquisition, 16 employees will transfer to Valio. The sale price is EUR 7 million.
Valio acquires Raisio plc’s plant protein business, the related fixed assets and the Härkis® and Beanit® fava bean brands. The fixed assets include the production equipment of the factory that makes plant protein products in Kauhava. In connection with the acquisition, 16 employees will transfer to Valio. The sale price is EUR 7 million.
“The food system of the future will include plant-based and animal-based food, as well as food produced by cellular agriculture. All of these are needed to provide enough food for a globally growing population. This is the foundation of Valio’s strategy, which sees us growing from a dairy company into a food company. This business acquisition is one step on our path of growth. A strong and innovative product selection has been Valio’s foundation for 120 years. In addition to milk-based products, we as a food company are now also investing in growth in foods based on other raw materials,” says Valio’s Executive Vice President Tuomas Salusjärvi.
Successful product launches and investment in own production
“This business acquisition will make us an even more significant developer and producer of plant-based protein products. The demand for these products will grow in the long term, and a great deal of growth potential still remains. In 2022, we acquired the Gold&Green® business and, since then, we have been carrying out strong product development and renewed the brand. Following successful product launches, sales in the last quarter of 2024 increased by about 50% from the previous quarter. With this acquisition, we are building our own production capacity. The production equipment of the Kauhava factory is just right for our needs and situation,” says Kimmo Luoma, Valio’s Senior Vice President.
In 2023, Raisio’s plant protein business net sales were EUR 5.5 million. After the business acquisition, Valio will become an even stronger player in the market for plant-based protein products. Valio’s selection of plant-based protein products already includes the Gold&Green® range, which consists of various ready-to-use plant protein products as well as plant protein raw materials for professional kitchens and the food industry. Valio’s offering also includes MiFU® protein products made from Finnish milk, launched in 2016.
So far Härkis and Beanit related operations continue as before, and Härkis products can be found in stores as before. During March, after the acquisition is finalised, the assets and employees included in the transaction will transfer to Valio.
