Sofiprotéol and LDC have formed an alliance aimed at making both companies more competitive and to counter the impact of growing imports.

The two companies want to:

• Recapture the domestic poultry market by developing French production and reducing the share of imports, which at present stands at 42 per cent;
• Strengthen the position of LDC as a major player in poultry in Europe;
• Strengthen the position of Sanders in the field of nutrition and production animal;
• To jointly develop internationally.

LDC is to acquire five poultry processing sites from Sofiprotéol in Brittany with sales of €310 million and employing 1,000 staff.

The five plants will be integrated into LDC’s operations in Brittany that include a further six processing plants and a new company will be formed - Société Bretonne de Volaille.

LDC will also acquire the Blancafort plant, which has a turnover of €20 million and employs 125 staff. It will be supplied by the Clémont facility of Sanders Animal Nutrition and will solidify poultry provision in the Central region.

The alliance is expected to invest more than €100 million in the new set up over the next five years.

Denis Lambert, Chairman of the LDC Group said: "This proposed alliance is a strong sign for the French poultry industry.

It reflects the mobilisation of two major players in the food chain around a common vision to enable the sector to regain the national market over time and grow internationally.

"It will strengthen the position of Sanders in the field of nutrition and animal production.

“This proposed alliance will include a special partnership between Sanders and LDC for supply of live poultry.”

Jean-Philippe Puig, CEO of Sofiprotéol: "This project demonstrates our alliance strategy for the development of French food chains.

“We will make a major contribution to the revival of the poultry sector in strengthening our leadership position in nutrition and animal production. Together, our two companies will accelerate their international development."