Barentz has announced the acquisition of Finnish-based Leipurin’s meat industry unit. The acquisition will widen Barentz ingredients portfolio dedicated to the meat industry and strengthen the company’s market share in the Nordic region. Through its Finnish daughter company MP-Maustepalvelu Oy, fully acquired in 2014, Barentz has positioned itself as the leading ingredients provider in Finland and is growing its market share in the rest of Europe. With the acquisition of Leipurin’s meat industry unit, Barentz continues to expand in this market.  

Mariano Vasconcellos, Technical Director Food & Nutrition told journalist: “Meat consumption is increasing, however, availability in relation to global population growth is decreasing. This is the reason why we as Barentz are exploring alternative solutions to support the meat industry.”  
   
“With this acquisition, we will bring our customers innovative, natural solutions for the meat industry, to support and expand this market,” he explains.  
     
“There is a trend in this market towards clean label, organic and natural solutions for functional purposes, but we are also seeing an increase in the market for vegetarian/hybrid ingredients. In our ingredients portfolio, we have many alternatives, plant based proteins such as pea and soy. One of the more innovative one is water lentils (Lemnoideae) which are already to be found in products in the US, wher it achieved GRAS status in 2015 and it is in the process of submitting the similar course in the EU – the Novel Foods Regulation.”  
  
“The acquisition of Leipurin’s meat industry unit fits well into the Barentz strategy to grow our market share in the meat industry,” said Mr. Hidde van der Wal, CEO of Barentz International. “It will not only increase our customer base but also expand Barentz’ ingredients portfolio with several interesting product ranges, for example, a nice collection of natural and organic ingredients.”  
   
Leipurin’s dedicated customer base in Finland will also benefit from the creative technologists at Maustepalvelu’s concept and application center offering the meat industry tailor made innovative food solutions.  
   
Mikko Salonen, Managing Director of Maustepalvelu, also commented: “We have been cooperating with Leipurin for several years, and with food solutions for the meat industry being Maustepalvelu’s main business, the takeover of Leipurin’s meat unit was a natural move, securing our position on the Finnish market. We are also looking forward to continuing our good cooperation with Leipurin in Leipurin’s main sector bakery blends.”