April 2018, Kerry Taste & Nutrition Joint Venture

20.04.2018

Kerry, the Taste and Nutrition company, as part of its ambition to become a market leader in the supply of innovative plant proteins, has just announced a joint venture with Ojah BV, market leading pioneer in the production of plant-based meat alternatives based in the Netherlands. Kerry Taste and Nutrition will become the majority shareholder of the company, next to management and Korys, the investment holding of the Belgian Colruyt family. Going forward, Korys and Kerry will co-control the joint venture. This new partnership will focus on strengthening relations with current customers, establishing international opportunities and developing new plant-based products. This joint venture combines Ojah’s proprietary technology to produce “best-in-class” plant-based protein products, with Kerry’s 40 years of food focussed heritage, its extensive global insights and marketplace knowledge, as well as its culinary and applications expertise. This will ensure that customers of this joint venture, will be able to future-proof their businesses, by bringing unique and innovative solutions to the market, to meet the nutritional and taste demands of their consumers now and long into the future. According to Dr. Albert McQuaid, Chief Technology Officer, Kerry: “As we begin to align and work closely with Ojah, we will be striving to work together to combine our collective expertise and knowledge, to bring new and innovative products to market, using the innovation, technological know-how and scientific expertise, which sits at the core of our two organisations.” Added Frank Giezen, Chief Executive Officer Ojah: “Our aim is to produce innovative, sustainable plant-based protein products to meet the needs of the rising flexitarian consumer. We believe this can be achieved by working closely with Kerry, our new strategic partner, who will bring their global presence and scientific knowledge and know-how, to help us develop even more unique and innovative plant-based food solutions to a global audience while maintaining our ingredient branding strategy.” Commented Dries Crevits, Executive Director, Korys: “We acquired Ojah just over a year ago, as we saw the potential that this innovative organisation and its products bring to the market. Now that Kerry has become a joint-venture partner, this potential has increased exponentially and we look forward to seeing where this partnership takes us in the future.” With mouth-watering taste and texture the Ojah plant-protein product has only two ingredients; plant-based proteins and water. The product is non-GMO, gluten free, and totally clean label. It is manufactured in the Netherlands by Ojah at its BRC-certified facility and sold under the Beeter brand in the domestic market and the Plenti brand internationally.

About Kerry

Kerry Group plc today is a world leader in Taste & Nutrition serving the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries and a leading consumer foods processing and marketing organisation in selected EU markets. With sales to over 140 countries worldwide, Kerry has grown to become a highly successful public company, with Group Revenue for the year ended 31 December 2017 of €6.4 billion. Launched as a public company in 1986, the market capitalisation of the Group has grown to a current level of approximately €15 billion. Kerry Group now employs over 24,000 people throughout its worldwide activities and operations.

Contact:
Sue Lamon-Diver
Director of Marketing & Communications
Kerry, Taste & Nutrition
T: +353 45 930175
E:

About Korys

Korys is a family-owned holding company investing in non-listed companies, private equity funds and managing a portfolio of listed investments. Today, it has more than EUR 4 billion of assets under management, among which a significant participation in Colruyt Group, a leading retail company in Belgium and France. Investment decisions are taken with a long-term perspective on the basis of economic, ecological and social merit. Korys aims to create sustainable value through a diversified portfolio of investments. Korys has a team of more than 20 professionals based in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Contact:
Dries Crevits
Executive Director
Korys
T: +0032 476 20 36 80
E: