Vion plans to sell one of its pig slaughterhouses in the Dutch group's domestic market due to declining volumes.

In a statement yesterday (6 October), the meat processor said it is seeking to offload its Apeldoorn site in the Netherlands to an unnamed “third party”.

Upon completion of the transaction, production will shift to the company’s other local plants, including those in Boxtel, Groenlo and Scherpenzeel. The relocation is expected before the end of this year.

The planned sale impacts roughly 300 staff at Apeldoorn but Vion said it is evaluating transfer opportunities for the employees and has committed to “actively support” the affected workers.

A formal social plan is being drafted with labour unions.

According to the group, the divestment will preserve “continuity” for clients and suppliers amid continued contraction in the Dutch pig farming sector.

“As a result of government measures, among other factors, the number of pigs in the Netherlands is declining,” it said, adding: "Consequently, the available volumes are decreasing and Vion has more production capacity than necessary."

The sale in the Netherlands adds to a series of plant disposals in another market, Germany, as part of the group's ongoing “strategic realignment” targeting the Benelux countries.

In June, the company divested its foodservice arm to the Group of Butchers.

That transaction included Vion Food Service Holding, Salomon FoodWorld, and German manufacturing sites in Großostheim and Holzwickede. The division manufactures frozen pork, beef, and poultry lines for commercial catering clients.

The group also reached terms in May to offload its Buchloe abattoir to Irish processor ABP Food Group.

A month before that, Vion agreed to sell its Waldkraiburg and Crailsheim facilities to Boeser Frischfleisch and OSI Europe Foodworks, respectively.

In January, regulatory hurdles forced the permanent closure of the group’s deboning plant in Hilden, affecting 160 positions.

Meanwhile, a sales process remains in process for Best Hides, the company’s German hide processing business.