Vivera Foodgroup exits the meat industry to focus on vegan future

Vivera Foodgroup is now focusing solely on plant-based products following the divestiture of meat company Enkco to Van Loon Group.

Based in the Netherlands, Vivera said the sale will enable it to focus more on the “strong growth opportunities” in the plant-based market in Europe.

The firm’s remaining plant-based brands – Vivera, Culifrost and Dutch Tofu Company – will benefit from “large-scale investments” to boost capacity and product range. Plans are in place to expand Vivera’s facility in the Netherlands in the third quarter of 2019. 

“We are one of the first companies in the world’s meat industry to say a final goodbye to meat,” said Willem van Weede, CEO of Vivera Foodgroup. “From now on, we only focus on plant-based foods which are really conquering the world.

“More and more consumers are discovering that plant-based products can be just as tasty as real meat and have many benefits for personal health, environmental impact and animal welfare. As a result of the sale of our meat activities, we think we can boost even more Vivera’s rapid international growth.”

Last month, Vivera released 100% fat-free vegan bacon pieces, following on from the introduction of a plant-based steak last year. 

In October, the firm launched a 100% plant-based hamburger as it scaled up production in the UK to meet increased demand. The Veggie Quarter Pounder aims to mimic the flavour of the Aberdeen Angus beef burger.

Vivera’s product range is available in more than 25 European countries and over 25,000 supermarkets. Its portfolio consists of more than 40 plant-based products.