Benning produces a “wide-range” of bar products for brand owners and private label customers, the Dutch group noted. This complements Prinsen’s existing line-up of powdered nutrition solutions with applications in sports, diet and wellness foods, coffee, cocoa drinks and creamers.
The combined group, which generates revenues of around €125m, will offer retailers and brand owners “category expertise, product development and manufacturing” of nutritional products, Prinsen said.
Geographic expansion
Benning has operations across Europe and generates a “significant” proportion of its revenue in the US and China, markets where Prinsen does not currently operate.
Robert Hoopman, Prinsen director of marketing and product development, said that Prinsen’s strategy will initially focus on expanding its sales to customers in Northwestern Europe with plans to expand its geographic reach to follow.
“Our first priority is to ensure we deliver our ‘one stop shop’ concept to current and potential customers in northwestern Europe. As a second step, we will look to extend to southern and Mediterranean Europe. Berning already serves customers in China and the US and we will explore further opportunities in these areas for both powders and bars,” he told FoodNavigator.
Strength in R&D
The combination also provides additional research and development capabilities, Prinsen noted.
Both Prinsen and Berning have their own R&D departments and a "large-scale" production capacity to support growing demand for active nutrition.
“We regard [Prinsen’s facility in] Helmond as the centre of excellence for powder. Similarly we regard Berning as centre of excellence for bars. We will, of course, share knowledge and best practices as well as capabilities. Both teams will work closely together under one banner to boost our innovation capabilities and delight customers with state of the art solutions,” Hoopman revealed.
The newly formed group will operate as Prinsen-Berning. Production will continue at the firm’s existing facilities in Helmond and Zwartsluis in the Netherlands and Georgsmarienhütte in Germany.
Frank Tellmann and Markus Wessendarp, Berning’s joint CEOs, will continue at the group.
Financial details are being kept “confidential” and the deal remains subject to approval from the German competition authorities.