Italian poultry group Amadori has acquired the Unconventional plant-based foods business from local peer Granarolo.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
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In a statement, Cesena-based Amadori said the acquisition “represents a fundamental pillar” to “accelerate and strengthen its leadership in the overall protein offering”.
It added that the deal gives “substance and coherence to the strategic vision summarised by the corporate brand Amadori – The Italian Protein Company”.
Amadori will assume management and development of the business and said production will remain in Italy.
The deal covers a production site in Coriano, in Rimini province, and the “Unconventional 100% Vegetale” brand.
The brand’s plant-based range includes burgers and patties, meat-free sausages, nuggets, cutlets and strips, as well as plant-based ribs and organic tofu products.
The group also plans to use its logistics and sales network to support the brand’s growth.
In the statement, Amadori CEO Denis Amadori said the acquisition marks “a significant acceleration in our growth path”, adding it would allow the group “to become one of the top three branded players in the plant-based processed foods sector”.
He added: “Unconventional 100% Vegetale’ enriches our offering with highly innovative products, meeting the new needs of consumers seeking a balanced and varied diet.”
All employees at the Coriano plant will join Amadori, which has more than 9,400 staff in Italy.
For Granarolo, the sale forms part of a broader effort to simplify its business model and focus on dairy.
The plant-based food unit was set up by the dairy cooperative in 2020.
Granarolo chairman Stanislao Fabbrino said: “With a view to simplifying our business model, we are focusing on the milk and dairy products market.”
The disposal comes weeks after Granarolo announced a change at the top of the business, with Fabbrino appointed chairman following Gianpiero Calzolari’s departure.
The dairy group reported 2025 revenue of €1.81bn ($2.13bn).
Like-for-like sales, excluding currency effects, rose 5.2%, driven mainly by growth in international markets and price increases.
EBITDA reached €100.5m, up 5.5% on 2024. However, Granarolo’s EBIT and net profit fell last year.
EBIT dropped 13.8% to €28.2m. Net profit slid 43.3% to €5.5m.
For Amadori, the move is the latest in a series of M&A deals.
In 2023, the group acquired a 70% stake in poultry specialist Forno d’Oro to expand its production capacity and ready-to-eat offering. It already has plant-based products in its portfolio under the Amadori brand.
