Kerry Group has entered into an agreement with Niacet to sharpen its focus on its core ingredient business and fulfill the rising demands for long shelf-life plant-based food items. 

The world’s leading taste & nutrition company Kerry Group has struck a deal with preservatives maker Niacet Corp. for USD1.01 billion in an effort to enhance its leadership positioning in the global FMCG market. The deal comes after the company announced to sell its British and Irish Consumer Foods’ Meats and Meals business to Pilgrim Pride for €819 million last week. The increasing awareness about the environment has led to the rising adoption of plant-based meat alternatives so producers are seeking ingredients that add to the safety and shelf-life of food items. Kerry’s new influx of customers comes from the fast-growing sector for meat substitutes on plants therefore the company has integrated with Niacet to expand the longevity of food items. 

Niacet holds a leadership position in building technologies for preservation, offering cost-effective, low-sodium preservation systems across conventional and clean label solutions in the bakery as well as pharmaceutical sectors. Leveraging Niacet’s complementary capabilities, Kerry Group will enhance food protection and preservation strategies that could appeal to a broader market in the long run. 

Addressing the acquisition of Niacet, CEO of Kerry Group said, “We are pleased to welcome the Niacet team to Kerry and we are excited at the potential the combination of our two businesses offers to outperform in this important and attractive market. Niacet's complementary product portfolio enhances Kerry's leadership position in the fast-growing food protection and preservation market and significantly advances its sustainable nutrition ambition.” He further added, “Niacet is a business with market leading positions, differentiated technologies and a strong and highly experienced management team.”

TechSci research said, “Major food industry pioneers are investing and introducing plant-based meat alternatives to fulfill the growing consumer demand of vegan and clean-label products. The innovative preservation technologies could significantly contribute to the emerging market of plant-based meal alternatives. The acquisition move of Kerry is a strong strategic move that adds high value to the business as the deal will help the taste & nutrient company to expand the portfolio of preservation technologies. Besides, combining products and process technologies, the deal would create significant growth opportunities for both the synergies to enable greater reach and solution delivery across key food waste categories.”

According to TechSci research report on “United States Meat Substitutes Market, By Type (Soy Products, Quorn, Tempeh, Tofu, Seitan and Others), By Source (Soy, Wheat, Mycoprotein and Others), By Category (Frozen, Refrigerated and Shelf-Stable), By Company and By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026”, United States meat substitute market is anticipated to grow at a formidable CAGR owing to increasing health problems and rising demand for healthy sources of protein.

According to another TechSci research report on “Global Textured Soy Protein Market By Type (Non-GMO, Organic, Conventional and Others), By Source (Soy Protein Concentrates, Soy Flour and Soy Protein Isolates), By Application (Food (Meat Substitutes, Dairy Alternatives, Infant Nutrition, Bakery) and Feed), By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026”, the global textured soy protein market is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR owing to increasing number of vegan and vegetarian consumers as well as availability of different soy products.