The European Commission has approved Switzerland-based meat processor Bell Food Group‘s acquisition of Austrian poultry producer Huber Group. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The acquisition was announced on 16 December 2015.

At the time, Bell Group's board of directors had approved the deal, along with giving a green signal to an investment program to further develop the facilities in Switzerland.

Huber Group's businesses include Hubers Landhendl in Pfaffsttt, Austria, the turkey specialist Süddeutsche Truthahn in Ampfing, Germany, as well as a hatchery and a logistics company in Austria.

The Austrian poultry company applies integrated production system with more than 400 partner fatteners. The company already supplies Bell with poultry for the Swiss market from manufacturing facilities which meet the standards of Swiss Animal Welfare Act.

The acquisition is yet to gain approval from other competition authorities.

With this takeover, Bell Group intends to gain access to important raw material poultry from countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, thereby creating a base for future poultry convenience sector.

Bell Group can also seek to enter the Austrian and German markets with a new product category through this acquisition.

With the deal, Huber seeks new growth opportunities and gain access to new sales channels.

Following the completion of acquisition process, Bell intends Huber Group to continue as an independent entity under the same management team.

Separately, Bell continues its expansion in Switzerland through its productions strategy. The company plans to invest in its existing facilities in Switzerland as well as in building new facilities between 2016 and 2025.

In this regard, the company will form a dedicated team which will finalise the projects for Basel and Oensingen, which will become ready for the decision process sin the next two years.

Image: Bell receives approval for Huber takeover. Photo: Courtesy of Suat Eman/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.