The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Arla Foods Ingredients’ acquisition of Volac’s Whey Nutrition business, Volactive. This acquisition marks a significant move for Arla, a Denmark-based dairy ingredient leader, in consolidating its position in the whey nutrition market. With demand for high-quality whey ingredients growing, the acquisition aligns both companies to leverage opportunities in the expanding global nutrition market.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the acquisition of Volac’s Whey Nutrition business, Volactive, by Arla Foods Ingredients, a leading dairy ingredient manufacturer based in Denmark. The decision follows a detailed evaluation that began after the companies signed an acquisition agreement on April 18, 2024. Arla Foods Ingredients is a subsidiary of Arla Foods, an international dairy cooperative owned by over 8,400 farmers across several European countries, including Denmark, Sweden, and the UK.
Luis Cubel, Group Vice President and Managing Director of Arla Foods Ingredients, expressed his enthusiasm about the CMA’s approval, stating, “This is a very welcome decision at a time when demand for high-quality whey ingredients is growing. It means we’re a step closer to a significant acquisition that would consolidate our position as a leader in the whey nutrition space.” With this approval, Arla can proceed with formalizing the acquisition, marking a notable step forward in enhancing its market share in the whey protein industry.
Volac, an English family-owned business managed by the Neville family, specializes in animal nutrition products and includes its whey subsidiary Volactive, which focuses on high-protein whey protein isolates. With a global presence, Volac operates four production facilities in the UK and has bases in the U.S., Indonesia, and Malaysia. Joint owner James Neville highlighted the strategic alignment of Volactive with Arla, stating, “We were always confident that Arla Foods Ingredients had the necessary expertise and values to take our Whey Nutrition business to the next level.”
Arla Foods Ingredients operates across several sectors, including early life nutrition, sports nutrition, medical nutrition, and health foods. The acquisition aligns with the increasing demand in the global sports nutrition market, which was valued at $45.24 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow by 7.5% in 2024, according to Grand View Research.
