"VION has a strong record in doing exactly this with its previous UK acquisitions. However, in the short term it will be business as usual at Cookstown. The Competition Commission has yet to give its opinion on the deal reached between VION and Grampian.
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However, on the basis that no obstacles will be flagged up by the Commission, the new VION UK management team is already working on a business plan to take all of Grampian's existing businesses forward.
"We are fully aware of the concerns that pig producers in Northern Ireland might have regarding the future of the Cookstown plant. This is why we aim to make the transition as smooth as possible. There will be no change whatsoever in the way the Cookstown plant sources pigs and deals with its farmer suppliers."
The acquisition of the Grampian group sees VION strengthen its UK position, where it has successful operations in the fresh pork, bacon and sausage markets.
"This announcement is evidence of the great importance VION attaches to the UK market. At the heart of VION's business is a 'Passion for Better Food' and Grampian is key to developing this strategy", VION Board of Management Chairman Daan van Doorn told Farming Life.
"The combined group will become a major player in the UK food industry.
"Together with Grampian's management we want to further intensify the cooperation with our retail clients by investing in Grampian, sharing knowledge and developing partnerships."
VION is one of Europe's largest food companies. Its roots lie in the agricultural and meat sectors and it has strong ties there.
VION holds a central position in the supply chain and translates market and consumer developments to the agricultural sector. VION thereby provides an active contribution to and investment in a sustainable future for the agricultural sectors in Holland, Germany and the UK.
In the UK, VION currently has four business operations. Key Country Foods is a major UK retail bacon processor. VION also has a majority share in J&J Tranfield, a leading supplier and manufacturer of pizza and sausages. VION Food UK Ltd is responsible for the sales of bacon, fresh pork, beef and convenience products to the UK market. VION company Oerlemans Foods offers fresh frozen vegetables, potato products and fruit through its UK sales office.
Grampian will be integrated into the new VION division, VION UK. This division will be managed from the UK and led by Ton Christiaanse, who will be appointed CEO VION UK. Peter Barr, formerly chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission in the UK, will be appointed as non-executive Chairman of the Board of VION UK.
The parent company, VION N.V., is an internationally operating food company that produces high-quality foodstuffs and ingredients for humans and animals. The group consists of three divisions: Ingredients, Fresh Meat and Convenience. VION has an annual turnover of more than £5.6 billion and employs 18,000 people worldwide. VION is a non-listed company and has a single agricultural shareholder: the Dutch Southern Agricultural and Horticultural Farmers Union, which has 18,000 members.