Red meat supplier Hilton Food Group Plc has confirmed it will sell Dalco Food, its Dutch-based vegan and vegetarian business.
UK plant-based company Livekindly Production has purchased the business for the total of £5.4 million, with the transaction to remain subject to standard approvals and deliverables, including consultation with the local works council.
Livekindly is home to plant-based brands such as Fry Family Food Co., The No Meat Company, Like and Oumph.
Based in Oosterhout, Netherlands, Dalco employs around 160 people, and manufactures meat alternative products in the form of ‘meatballs’, ‘nuggets’ and ‘burgers’, as well as other new product lines.
Hilton Foods said the disposal of the business was consistent with its strategy to “focus investment” and drive growth from its core meat and fresh prepared food businesses.
It also said it would be seeking to improve performance and maximise value from its seafood business and its other vegan and vegetarian businesses.
Dalco is expected to be treated as an asset held for sale in the Group’s 2026 interim results. It made an adjusted operating loss of approximately £2 million in the first half of 2026, which is expected to be reported as a “loss from discontinued operations”.
