European poultry producer Plukon Food Group has acquired the activities of Dutch plant-based brand Vega Insiders, part of the Zilverwerf Group.
Plukon says the acquisition marks its next step in the field of alternative proteins, accelerating the integration of plant-based product development expertise within the group. Vega Insiders will continue to operate under its own name as part of Plukon Food Group, and all employees will remain with the company.
“We are proud to welcome Vega Insiders to the Plukon family,” said Kees Kraijenoord, CEO of Plukon Food Group. “For some time, Plukon has aspired to have a dedicated vegetarian/vegan production site. With this acquisition, that ambition becomes reality, and we can now scale up in a fully plant-based environment.”
“A partner with the same mindset”
Vega Insiders produces a variety of products, including an alternative to kebab meat and a plant-based bacon brand called Grunchy. The company caters to retail, foodservice, and QSR clients, and its modern factory can produce a range of fresh and frozen items.
According to Plukon, the acquisition came about after the owner of Vega Insiders decided to transfer the company to a partner with the same “values, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit”.
“After years of building Vega Insiders, I was looking for a sustainable future for the company,” said Mart Beniers, founder of Vega Insiders and owner of Zilverwerf Group. “In Plukon, I found a partner with the same mindset: entrepreneurial, pragmatic, and knowledgeable about the market. We had an immediate connection, which gives me full confidence that Vega Insiders is in good hands.”
