VAFO acquires remaining stake in German pet food maker Allco Tiernahrung

VAFO Group has made a strategic investment to expand its footprint in Europe. It has completed the full acquisition of Allco Tiernahrung, which will become a complete subsidiary after joining operations in 2017.

The acquisition supplements VAFO’s ambition to steadily increase its market share, transform its values into a unified outward image, improve communication and provide German customers with better solutions.

Jörg Lefers, current Managing Director of Allco Tiernahrung, and Carsten Weerts, Head of Sales, will remain at the helm of the renamed Vafo.de.

The target market to invest

Pavel Bouška, Chairman of VAFO Group’s Board, says Germany is “where we want to further invest and expand our market position” and deems it their “most important market” in Europe.

The latest deal enables VAFO to leverage Allco’s “very promising sales and market position” in Northern and Western Germany. The parent company will first expand its sales team and then actively target acquisitions of both production and trading companies in Germany.

The firm is also well-positioned to receive support from local banks for its expansion plans, given its maintenance of “low debt levels.”

“VAFO’s strategy includes building the same strong position in all German states and targeting the independent market as well as all major players in the German retail market such as Fressnapf, Das Futterhaus, Zoo & Co., Kölle Zoo and others,” a VAFO spokesperson tells GlobalPETS.

Pushing private label

Allco operates throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—known as the DACH region—and has made efforts to launch VAFO’s brands, such as Brit and Carnilove, in the territory.

The full acquisition will enable the company to “leverage this existing distribution network to enhance its operational reach” further.

The group also wants to expand the presence of its flagship brands. Thus, the new German team is expected to soon offer VAFO’s entire private–label portfolio in all formats.