December 26, 2007

Belgian feed makers Dumoulin, Aveve merge

Belgian agricultural giant Aveve has already taken over the country's fourth biggest feed manufacturer Dumoulin. 

Aveve's financial director Paul Deleu said it is "the most important takeover we ever did". Financial details were not disclosed.

Aveve, daughter company of the Belgium farmers organisation Boerenbond, is taking a majority stake in the family business of Dumoulin while Dominiek Dumoulin keeps a minority share and continues managing the company.

Aveve is the biggest feed manufacturer in Belgium with annual production of nearly 900,000 tonnes of animal feed while Dumoulin has 400,000 tonnes per year.

The acqusition has increased Aveve's market leadership, but the Flemish company still has less than 20 percent of the total Belgium feed market, which is highly fractioned with many small companies.

Dumoulin is mainly known for its feeds based on oilseeds. The innovative power of Dumoulin has been crucial for the takeover, says Deleu.

Aveve is very active on agri- and horticulture markets and yearly, a new company has been acquired by the group for the past ten years.

Animal feeds together with plant protection and garden centres are core business of Aveve. The group employs 1,400 people of which 430 work in animal feeds.

Aveve has feed mills in Merksem and Aalter. Dumoulin has its main bases in Kortrijk and Andenne and employs 207 people.