Valio strengthens plant-based portfolio with €7M Raisio acquisition

FINLAND – Valio has acquired Raisio’s plant protein business, including the Härkis and Beanit fava bean brands, in a deal valued at €7 million. 

The acquisition includes production equipment at Raisio’s plant protein factory in Kauhava, Finland, and 16 employees who will transfer to Valio.

A report by Valio stated that the deal strengthens its position in the plant-based protein market as part of its ongoing expansion beyond dairy. 

The company has been investing in alternative protein sources, with executive vice president Tuomas Salusjärvi highlighting that the future of food will require a combination of plant-based, animal-based, and cellular agriculture products.

“The food system of the future will include plant-based and animal-based food, as well as food produced by cellular agriculture. All of these are needed to provide enough food for a globally growing population,” he stated,  

“This is the foundation of Valio’s strategy, which sees us growing from a dairy company into a food company.”

According to the company, the acquisition is a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the plant-based sector.

Valio has previously invested in plant proteins, acquiring the Gold&Green business in 2022 and launching new products under the brand. 

The addition of Raisio’s plant protein business is expected to enhance product development and expand production capacity.

Kimmo Luoma, Valio’s senior vice president, reported that the acquisition would position the company as a stronger player in the plant-based protein market. 

“This business acquisition will make us an even more significant developer and producer of plant-based protein products. The demand for these products will grow in the long term, and a great deal of growth potential still remains.”

Luoma also noted that since acquiring Gold&Green, Valio has focused on product development and brand renewal. 

Reports indicated that successful product launches contributed to a 50% increase in sales in the last quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter. 

The company expects the Kauhava factory’s production equipment to support further expansion in the sector.

Valio’s existing plant-based protein range includes the Gold&Green brand, which supplies ready-to-use plant protein products and raw materials for professional kitchens and the food industry. 

The company also produces MiFU protein products, made from Finnish milk, which were introduced in 2016.

Operations related to the Härkis and Beanit brands will continue as usual for now. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in March, at which point the assets and employees will officially transfer to Valio.