Vion enters joint venture with Russian beef importer

Vion NV Corporation, a large European meat producer based in the Netherlands, has entered into a joint venture in Russia with Russian beef importer Ramfood Group of Companies.

Vion will hold the majority stake in the joint venture, with the remaining stake owned by Ramfood.

Under the joint venture, Vion and Ramfood will produce chilled meat, as well as chilled and frozen convenience foods.

The companies will invest nearly EUR10 million (US$15 million) to construct a plant to produce semi-finished products from chilled meat during the first phase, due to huge prospects in this market segment which is expected to grow more than 22 percent per year.

But Vion currently no plans to launch some of its brands in Russia, as the company plans to create a new brand and is expecting that all plans for the development of animal husbandry will be successfully implemented, according to Managing Director of Vion Trading GmbH, Rainer Kyuhenmeyster.