LDC to acquire France Poultry from Saudi Arabia’s Almunajem Group
Company plans to redirect exports away from Gulf markets and invest in new processing capacity
FRANCE – French poultry processor LDC has agreed to purchase France Poultry, an export-focused chicken business owned by Saudi Arabia’s Almunajem Group, in a move that reshapes the ownership structure of operations linked to the former Doux poultry company.
The acquisition follows approval from a court administrator in Rennes and will result in LDC taking full ownership of France Poultry by purchasing 100% of the company’s shares from Almunajem.
Alongside the takeover, LDC will also obtain a 35.5% shareholding in Yer Breizh, a poultry hatchery and feed supplier that provides upstream services to France Poultry.
The origins of the transaction can be traced to 2018, when a consortium led by LDC and including Almunajem stepped in to acquire the financially troubled French poultry processor Doux.
After that rescue deal was completed, the partners reorganised Doux’s operations by creating France Poultry to operate the export-oriented slaughterhouse in Châteaulin, Brittany.
France Poultry, which was owned entirely by Almunajem, also took control of the Doux, Doux FitLife and Supreme poultry trademarks across Gulf Cooperation Council markets and Yemen following the restructuring.
At the same time, a separate entity called Yer Breizh was set up to manage Doux’s upstream operations, including poultry farms, hatcheries and a feed production plant in Brittany.
France Poultry initially held a 40.5% stake in Yer Breizh, while LDC controlled another 40.5% through its Amont LDC subsidiary.
Shift away from Gulf markets
LDC chief financial officer Natalia Bernard said the new transaction was designed to support operational restructuring at France Poultry and establish a more stable long-term direction for the business.
She explained that France Poultry has historically focused on frozen poultry exports, such as whole frozen chickens, destined mainly for markets in the Middle East.
However, Bernard said the company’s activity in the Gulf region is currently generating losses under existing economic conditions, prompting LDC to consider redirecting the business toward other markets from next year.
Plans for new processing facility
As part of its strategy, LDC intends to construct a new poultry slaughterhouse for France Poultry, with the facility expected to begin operations in early 2028 if development plans proceed as scheduled.
Bernard said the current processing plant in Châteaulin specialises in smaller chickens processed for freezing and export, which limits its suitability for supplying products for the French domestic market.
The company therefore plans to gradually reorganise activities at the existing site while preparing for the launch of a new processing facility designed to meet different market requirements.
According to Bernard, the restructuring approach will involve a transitional phase in which production at the current slaughterhouse is adjusted while preparations continue for the new plant that will eventually replace it.
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