Biotechnology company Alltech has added Norway’s Produs AS and Produs Aqua AS to its list of recent acquisitions, a move that will advance the company’s European operations moving forward.
Alltech anticipates that the acquisitions of the two feed producers – both of which are Norwegian-family owned and fixtures in Norway’s agriculture and aqua industries – will offer “continued innovative, customized and quality products, programs, services and on-farm consultation for customers in Norway, both on land and at sea.” Norwegian producers can expect the latest nutritional technologies to emerge from the union, according to Alltech representatives and Magne Kolstad, chief financial officer for Produs and Produs Aqua.
“We are taking this positive step into the future with Alltech because we believe their global resources, technology and innovative approach to both agriculture and aquaculture will strengthen the operations and profitability of our Norwegian customers,” said Kolstad in a prepared statement.
This isn’t the first that Alltech and Produs have heard from each other – the companies have been partners for nearly 35 years already, so the merge, while exciting, also offers conducive familiarity, noted Bjarne Ravnøy, managing director Produs Aqua.
“Alltech is a family-owned business like Produs so our customers will continue to experience the special attention to detail and on-farm support, including superior customer service, unique to private, family businesses,” said Ravnøy. “Over the past ten years, Alltech has helped to form the foundations of our businesses. We look forward to becoming part of the Alltech family and to growing together in the future.”
Although Alltech operates in a wide array of locales, Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech, finds that Norway has a prominent appeal to the biotech business, one that can be built upon as a result of these recent acquisitions.
“Although our business operates in 128 countries, Norway holds a very special place for Alltech and for me personally. Norway reminds me a lot of Ireland in terms of its scenic landscape and its agricultural focus,” said Lyons in a release. “We have worked with the Ravnøy and Loe families since the early 2000s, and we’re delighted now to officially welcome them into the Alltech family. We have complementary strengths that we can deliver to Norwegian producers, both on land and at sea, supporting their endeavours to nourish the world more efficiently, profitably and sustainably.”
Produs and Produs Aqua have become Alltech’s ninth and tenth acquisitions respectively.
