Avril subsidiary Sanders is set to acquire Soufflet Agriculture's animal nutrition operations, contributing to the growth of livestock industries in France. The acquisition reinforces their partnership and supports breeders while securing Soufflet Agriculture's Talmont-Saint-Hilaire site's activities.

Sanders, an Avril subsidiary, has entered exclusive negotiations with Soufflet Agriculture, a part of the InVivo group, to acquire its animal nutrition operations, including the Talmont-Saint-Hilaire (Vendée) site.

This move comes as no surprise, as Sanders and Soufflet Agriculture have been partners since 2005, and this venture further solidifies their shared commitment to promoting thriving livestock industries in France and ensuring food sovereignty.

The acquisition is in line with Sanders' strategic vision of supporting breeders and enabling them to play a vital role in their communities. Moreover, it strengthens the link between plants and animals, fostering the sustainability of livestock industries.

According to Philippe Manry, General Manager of Sanders, "This acquisition would see Soufflet Agriculture's historical activities at the Talmont-Saint-Hilaire site continue. At Sanders, we operate across all communities in order to boost their breeding industries. In particular, this project forms part of Sanders' activities aimed at securing the future of the milk and beef cattle industries". 

Christophe Passelande, Chief Executive Officer of Soufflet Agriculture, said that, "Sanders' acquisition of our animal nutrition business would represent a continuation of the partnership between Avril and the InVivo group that dates back to 2005. Soufflet Agriculture's animal nutrition operations are renowned for the expertise that goes into them and their formulations, which enable the company to offer solutions that match breeders' specific objectives. This project would harness the expertise of the existing teams and strengthen Sanders' market position".

Soufflet Agriculture currently sells 70,000 tonnes of compound feed in France, primarily in Vendée.

The animal nutrition operations of Soufflet Agriculture consist of 21 employees, including 11 technical sales representatives, renowned for their expertise in beef cattle throughout France.

The Talmont-Saint-Hilaire industrial site, producing 45,000 tonnes of mash annually, will enable Sanders to enhance its range of high-performance solutions for its breeder customers. All existing contracts with Soufflet Agriculture's partner breeders will remain in effect with their current terms.

The completion of this acquisition is contingent upon informing and consulting with staff representatives, as well as obtaining authorization from the competition authority.