Vion Food Group has sold its stake in two sites in Germany to fellow meat business Erzeugergemeinschaft Südbayern.

Netherlands-based Vion is making moves to quit Germany to focus on the Benelux markets.

In January, the company closed one site in Germany and struck a deal to sell three others in the country.

Five months later, Vion said it would exit the market entirely and today (19 August) announced the deal with Erzeugergemeinschaft Südbayern, also known as EG Südbayern.

Two sites in Bavaria – in Vilshofen and Landshut – are changing hands for an undisclosed sum. EG Südbayern had owned a 49% stake in the operations.

In a statement, Vion said the sites, which export to markets in southern Europe, have a combined slaughtering capacity of 33,000 pigs and a deboning capacity of 650 tons per week.

“This decision is rooted in our long-standing and successful partnership with EG Südbayern,” Vion CEO Ronald Lotgerink said. “We are confident that under their full ownership both locations will continue to be successful and add value to the regional food production and supply.”

In its statement, Vion said its remaining operations in Germany “are still under strategic review and will continue to run as usual until further decisions are made”. 

In May 2023, Vion said it would be closing a beef plant at Bad Bramstedt, impacting 250 employees and five months later it announced the closure of a convenience foods plant in Großostheim, affecting 220 jobs.

Erwin Hochecker, the chairman of the board at EG Südbayern, added: “Our primary focus remains on our members – the farmers of southern Bavaria – whose hard work and dedication underpin our success. We will also stay a committed partner to the beef site in Waldkraiburg where we will continue supplying cattle in the future.”