Arla Foods Ingredients has reached an agreement to purchase Volac’s Whey Nutrition business, aiming to enhance its global production and product offerings. The acquisition is expected to be completed later this year.
Arla Foods Ingredients has signed an agreement to acquire the Whey Nutrition division of the UK-based Volac group. This deal involves the purchase of shares in Volac Whey Nutrition Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, Volac Whey Nutrition Limited and Volac Renewable Energy Limited. The transaction is pending regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close by the end of the year.
Volac specializes in transforming whey into ingredients for sports nutrition, with its by-products serving the food and animal nutrition sectors. The centerpiece of this acquisition is the Felinfach whey processing facility in Wales, which Arla envisions as a global production hub for its enhanced product offerings in the performance, health, and food sectors.
“This brings together two complementary offerings in a growing and increasingly international space for whey products. Volac is a pioneer in the use of whey protein for performance nutrition and has a wealth of expertise as well as an incredibly talented team. It shares our commitment to helping companies worldwide harness the full potential of whey, and we’re hugely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Luis Cubel, Group Vice President and Managing Director of Arla Foods Ingredients.
James Neville, joint owner of Volac, expressed confidence in the partnership: “When considering the future of Volac Whey Nutrition and the opportunities that lie ahead for that business, it was crucial for us to choose a partner with the right values and expertise. Arla Foods Ingredients has the ambition and the knowledge to take the business to the next level.”
This acquisition aligns with the rapid growth of the global sports nutrition industry, which has seen a compound annual growth rate of 9% since 2010. The industry is projected to be worth 42.2 billion USD by 2028, up from 28.1 billion in 2023. The combined portfolios of Volac Whey Nutrition’s Volactive® range and Arla Foods Ingredients’ Lacprodan® range promise significant advancements in sports nutrition products.