German poultry processor Sprehe acquires Nestlé production plant in Germany

GERMANY – German poultry processor Sprehe is set to acquire Nestlé’s production plant located in Conow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, starting January 2026.

The Swiss food company announced the sale yesterday, confirming the transfer of the facility along with part of its workforce.

Earlier this year, Nestlé revealed it was engaged in detailed discussions over the potential sale of the Conow site, which included retaining employees on location.

Under the agreement, roughly 70 positions at the Conow plant will be preserved after the transition to Sprehe’s management.

Sprehe operates 12 production sites across Germany, producing fresh and frozen meat products with the support of 3,500 employees.

Albert Sprehe, the company’s managing partner, stated that the business looks forward to working with the current staff at the Conow site and maintaining its operations.

The Conow facility currently manufactures products under the Maggi and Garden Gourmet brands, including Garden Gourmet Vuna faux tuna, Maggi liquid bouillon, and Maggi Texicana salsa, which will be shifted to other European plants.

Nestlé maintains 17 sites in Germany, including more than ten production facilities, and employs over 6,000 people nationwide.

In March, Nestlé disclosed that it would also close its Neuss plant in North Rhine-Westphalia by mid-2026, which produces Thomy oil, mayonnaise, and mustard, affecting approximately 145 staff.

The company linked both the Conow sale and the Neuss closure to reduced volumes and surplus capacity, citing increased consumer price sensitivity and higher operating costs.

Last year in April, Nestlé announced a reduction of several positions at its German headquarters in Frankfurt as part of ongoing cost management measures.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.