Valio has acquired Raisio’s plant protein business, the related fixed assets and the Härkis® and Beanit® fava bean brands for EUR 7 million.
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.
Valio’s Executive Vice President Tuomas Salusjärvi said: “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.”
Kimmo Luoma, Valio’s Senior Vice President, said: “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.”