Orkla Foods has struck a deal to acquire a 40% stake in the Netherlands-based Asian sauces maker Go-Tan.
Financial terms of the deal were not revealed in a statement from Nordic group Orkla, which is headquartered in Norway.
Orkla is buying the stake from Go-Tan’s founding family, who will retain majority ownership and continue to play an “active role” in the business.
The deal is structured as a “long-term partnership and a shared ambition to build the Go-Tan brand further”, the group said on Friday (12 June).
It aligns with Orkla's planned strategy of “targeted” investments in growth platforms, specifically frozen meals, sauces, and dilutables, as announced by CEO Aku Vikström at the 2025 Orkla Capital Markets day.
Vikström said: “This partnership is well aligned with our strategy of investing in and building growth platforms with long-term value creation potential. Sauces are a core category for Orkla Foods, and Asian sauces represent an attractive growth segment within this category.”
In an earlier related transaction from another Orkla unit, its ingredients business agreed to buy Senna, the Austrian producer of margarine, sauces and dressings, from Vivatis Holding in February.
Meanwhile, Go-Tan runs four production plants - three in the Netherlands and one in Hungary employing around 250 people.
In 2025, the company generated sales of more than €92m ($106.9m) and EBITDA of more than €11m, according to the statement.
Orkla will hold a call option to acquire another 45% of Go-Tan in 2030. The Norwegian group would then own 85% of the shares and the founding family 15%.
“Our teams will soon begin collaborating on joint projects, and we are eagerly looking forward to this journey together,” Swan Bing Go, the CEO of Go-Tan, said.
Go-Tan was established by a Chinese-Indonesian family 72 years ago. It has a “strong” presence in the Netherlands, Finland and Norway, while Spain, France, and Italy represent the company’s “fastest growing” markets, noted Orkla.
The Go-Tan deal is contingent on customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half.
It follows Orkla’s May acquisition of UK biscuits supplier Phoenix Brands.
