The Zeister F&F Group wants to merge with the VanDrie Group, both companies announced. That is because they can complement each other well to grow further. Both will specialize more, says F&F director Michiel de Boer.
De deal is still subject to change, because approval is still required from the competition authorities and parties should not encounter any surprises. However, the intended partners like each other, De Boer indicates.
"I regularly meet VanDrie and during such a meeting the first step was taken to explore further collaboration," he says. "The collaboration offers us the opportunity to strengthen the position of both companies. We also both see growth opportunities."
For F&F customers, the step means an expanded product portfolio. "Schils Food's dairy trading activities will be transferred to F&F Group. Here the focus will be on Food. The focus for the VanDrie subsidiary Schils BV (the calf milk factory in Sittard) will be on feed."
Majority interest
Other sources report that VanDrie will take a 60 percent interest in F&F. The collaboration is also beneficial for VanDrie. Schils has a slightly older team, F&F has a fairly extensive and younger team of people. In addition to the branch in Zeist, the latter party also has a (mixing) factory in Büren, in central Germany. F&F is active there with its subsidiary Nöll & Co.