USA – The American food corporation, Tyson Foods has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire BRF SA’s operations in Thailand and Europe at a purchase price of US$340 million.

The deal includes four processing facilities in Thailand, one processing facility in the Netherlands and one processing facility in the United Kingdom, previously operated by BRF.

According to Tyson Foods, which is also one of the world’s leading processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the acquisition positions it to be a market leader in value-added protein products.

Acquired Thailand business involve vertically integrated poultry operations that include a feed mill, hatchery, breeder farms and contract growing operations supplying live birds for the four poultry processing facilities.

These four plants produce a wide range of fresh and frozen, value-added raw and fully cooked poultry products including highly specialized cuts for retail and foodservice customers throughout Asia and other export markets, including Europe.

The processing locations in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are supported by in-house innovation capabilities for developing further-processed chicken products for retail and foodservice customers throughout Europe.

Products are sold under Grabits, Hot ‘N’ Kickin’ Chicken, Speedy Pollo and the Sadia brands, in addition to key customer-owned brands.

“It’s estimated that approximately 90 percent of global protein consumption growth will occur outside the United States, with 60% of the volume growth coming from Asia over the next 5 years,” said Donnie King, group president of International for Tyson Foods.

“Increasing our international footprint with in-country operations and export capabilities will help Tyson Foods strategically access new markets and better serve the growing global demand for our value-added protein.”

Tyson said the acquisition of BRF facilities helps complement and strengthen its presence in Thailand, provides new capabilities in Europe for value added protein products.

In a strategy to become a market leader in protein, Tyson Foods invested in plant-based food maker, Beyond Meat in 2017 increasing the 5% ownership stake it established the previous year.

Last November, the company acquired Keystone Foods from Brazilian food-processor Marfrig Global Foods for US$2.16 billion.