EU approves Bell's takeover of Huber Group

Bell Food Group, a prominent player in the European market for processed meat, makes a range of red meat, poultry, seafood and convenience foods. The Swiss company has made no secret of its interest in the poultry company Huber Group, announcing its plan to acquire the company back in 2015.

A spokesman for Bell Food Group confirmed the Swiss company was specifically interested in Huber Group’s expertise in the poultry market. He also said that none of the company’s 900 staff would be axed as a result of the takeover.

‘Important step’​

“The Huber Group is a very important player in the poultry and turkey markets in both Germany and Austria,​” said Bell Food Group’s head of corporate marketing and communications Davide Elia.

“The poultry business is growing in Europe – and not only for typical fresh chicken products, but also chicken components for convenience foods, such as for sandwiches or ready-to-eat meals, but also for charcuterie, sausages and these kind of processed meat products. The takeover of Huber Group is a very important step for us because it gives us security to have enough raw material to operate successfully in this growing market segment,​” he added.

Competitive advantage​

The deal will enable Bell Food Group to expand its poultry operation in Austria and Germany and tap into the growing poultry market without monopolising it.

This was an area of concern for the European Commission after it had concerns that the operation’s overlap in the European Economic Area (EEA) where both companies do business, could give Bell Food Group a competitive advantage. The Commission duly ruled that the overlaps in Europe were so slight that they would not put other companies at a disadvantage.

Bell Food Group has not confirmed the price it paid for the acquisition of Huber Group. The Swiss company only confirmed it estimated Huber Group’s turnover to be in the region of €300m ($325m).