Vion agrees to sell two more German slaughterhouses as exit plan accelerates
Deals follow earlier blocked sale to Premium Food Group and remain subject to approval
GERMANY – Vion Food Group has agreed to divest two additional slaughterhouse facilities in Germany as it continues repositioning its operations towards the Benelux region.
The Dutch processor confirmed on Friday, 17 April, that it had reached preliminary commercial agreements to sell its Waldkraiburg and Crailsheim plants to Boeser Frischfleisch and OSI Europe Foodworks, respectively.
The assets were earlier earmarked for transfer to Premium Food Group, previously known as Tönnies, before regulators halted that arrangement.
Germany’s competition authority stopped the earlier transaction in June, citing risks to farmers and smaller industry participants if it proceeded.
Premium Food Group later said it would contest the ruling in court, but in November proposed that rival processor Westfleisch take over the assets instead.
The newly agreed sales remain conditional on approval from relevant antitrust and regulatory authorities before they can be completed.
Vion said the selection of Boeser Frischfleisch and OSI Europe Foodworks was based on their stated commitment to invest in the facilities over the long term and maintain operations.
The company added that both buyers see strategic value in the sites, which it expects will support their integration into existing business structures.
The transactions are structured as share deals, and none of the parties involved has disclosed the financial details of the agreements.
The Crailsheim facility processes around 1 million pigs and 95,000 cattle annually and employs 593 workers according to Vion’s operational data.
The Waldkraiburg plant handles approximately 163,000 cattle each year and employs 338 employees on-site.
Vion expects the transactions to be finalised within the coming months, depending on the outcome of regulatory assessments and approvals.
The company began scaling down its German operations in 2023 and, a year later, announced its intention to fully withdraw from the market.
Further restructuring has already taken place, including the planned closure of a deboning facility in Hilden following a failed sale, affecting about 160 staff.
Vion continues to review its remaining German assets, including Buchloe and other operations, while exploring alternative options for sites in Memmingen and Eching-Weixerau.
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