MÜNSTER, GERMANY — Westfleisch, Germany’s second largest meat marketer, has announced its acquisition of The Petfood Company GmbH, which is expanding further into the pet food industry.
“With this acquisition, we have taken a further step towards expanding our own value chain,” said Wilhelm Uffelmann, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Westfleisch. “Due to strong demand from our retail partners, we see high growth potential for The Petfood Company’s premium products. We want to take advantage of it together.”
The Petfood Company is based in Bocholt, Germany, and specializes in private label products. According to Westfleisch, the company filed for insolvency at the end of 2023, but its operations continued.
The Petfood company currently receives its raw materials from the Westfleisch meat centers in Coesfeld and Oer-Erkenschwick, Germany.
“The Petfood Company is a very well-positioned producer in the wet food sector and has a modern production facility,” said Johannes Steinhoff, chief operating officer of Westfleisch. “Using our raw materials, our experience and our network, as well as the targeted use of synergies, we will expand production in Bocholt, build the production facility firmly and secure around 60 jobs for the future.”
The acquisition of Westfleisch’s existing pet food product range, which includes its dry chew subsidiary Dog’s Nature GmbH, is also expected.
“At The Petfood Company, we are now expanding our product portfolio to include wet pet food and thereby increase our range in the pet food segment, also in the interest of our customers,” said Steinhoff.
Following the acquisition, Westfleisch will operate 10 locations across northwest Germany. The company has plans to continue investing in its product diversification and expand its value chain.
“This successful acquisition is an example of what we will continue to promote in the coming months and years,” said Uffelmann. “We see the opportunities provided by the consolidation of the German meat market and take advantage of them where it makes strategic and operational sense.”
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