Vion Sells Two Meat Plants in Germany

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Vion Sells Two Meat Plants in Germany

Vion Food Group has agreed to sell two major sites in southern Germany as part of its plan to refocus on other markets.

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Martina Osmak

Director of Marketing

Deal Targets Two Key Locations

Vion Food Group has reached an agreement to sell its Crailsheim and Waldkraiburg facilities to new owners. The Crailsheim site is set to go to Boeser Frischfleisch GmbH, while OSI Europe Foodworks GmbH plans to acquire the Waldkraiburg plant.

Both deals are not final yet. They still need approval from regulators and must meet standard closing conditions. The company expects the process to finish in the coming months.

Why Vion Is Selling

The move is part of Vion’s broader strategy to reduce its presence in Germany and focus more on the Benelux region.

The German meat industry is changing, with fewer but larger players. Vion said it chose buyers that can invest in the future and keep the sites running long term.

What Happens at Each Site

Crailsheim

The Crailsheim facility handles both pork and beef processing.

Key facts:

  • Around 1 million pigs processed each year

  • About 95,000 cattle processed annually

  • Employs nearly 600 people

The new owner specializes in pork cutting and has strong links to retail and food industry customers. The combination is expected to connect slaughtering with advanced meat processing.

Waldkraiburg

The Waldkraiburg plant focuses on cattle processing.

Key facts:

  • Around 163,000 cattle processed each year

  • More than 300 employees

The buyer is a global food company with experience in meat processing and strong customer networks. The site may benefit from access to new markets.

Background to the Sales

These sites were previously planned to be sold to another large meat company. However, German competition authorities blocked that deal due to concerns about market dominance and impact on farmers.

Vion then restarted the sales process and selected new buyers.

Impact on Workers and Supply Chain

For now, operations at both plants will continue as usual. Vion says it will keep supply chains stable and meet all commitments until the deals are completed.

The company also stressed that finding reliable long term owners is key for:

  • Employees

  • Farmers

  • Regional partners

What About Other German Sites

Vion is still reviewing its remaining operations in Germany.

Some updates include:

  • Strong interest from buyers in the Buchloe beef site

  • Alternative options being explored for hide processing locations in Memmingen and Eching-Weixerau

All sites remain active during this review.

Bigger Picture

Vion has been gradually reducing its footprint in Germany since 2023. The latest sales are another step in that direction.

The company aims to invest more in sustainable production and higher value products in its core regions.

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