Plukon Food Group acquires plant-based producer Vega Insiders

NETHERLANDS – Plukon Food Group BV is acquiring the operations of Vega Insiders, a Netherlands-based company that manufactures vegan and vegetarian products for retail, foodservice, and quick-service restaurant clients.

This comes as Plukon continues to develop its presence in the alternative protein market.

Vega Insiders, which operates a production facility in Udenhout, is part of the Zilverwerf Group and will retain its name after the acquisition.

Plukon said all 18 employees at Vega Insiders will remain with the business and that their experience will help the company accelerate product development in the plant-based sector.

According to Plukon, the goal of the takeover is to grow the brand with a partner that shares similar business values and has the resources to scale production sustainably.

The new addition will function independently within the Plukon Food Group, while contributing expertise in vegan food manufacturing across a variety of chilled and frozen product categories.

The acquisition also gives Plukon its first dedicated production site for entirely plant-based products, something the company had been seeking for some time.

In a statement, Plukon CEO Kees Kraijenoord said the integration of Vega Insiders supports the company’s broader alternative protein strategy and allows it to expand operations in a plant-based environment.

Meanwhile, Mart Beniers, who founded Vega Insiders and owns its parent company Zilverwerf Group, said he was looking for a long-term partner that could ensure the company’s continuity and growth.

He added that shared views on entrepreneurship and industry experience played a key role in choosing Plukon as the future owner.

Expanding operations in alternative proteins

Plukon Food Group operates across seven European countries, with 40 facilities and approximately 11,000 employees.

In 2024, the company reported an annual turnover of US$3.67 billion (€3.4 billion), generated from its activities in poultry processing, ready meals, salads, meal components, and plant-based alternatives.

With the addition of Vega Insiders, Plukon intends to expand its product range further to meet growing demand for meat-free food solutions.

Vega Insiders’ current product lineup includes vegan minced meat, falafel, bacon substitutes, and cheese bites.

The company’s Udenhout facility is equipped to produce both fresh and frozen items for a variety of distribution channels.

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