Danish Crown aims to be world-leader in natural casings

“If there is something good for sale – we will buy it,​” Roelsgaard told GlobalMeatNews​ exclusively after the business sold Arne B. Corneliussen (ABC) to Orkla Food Ingredients for an undisclosed sum.

Divestment of the Nordic ingredients business transpired for a single purpose: so DAT-Schaub can become “if not the biggest, then the best​” natural casings sausage producer in the world, according to Roelsgaard.
The business is bullish about the future. It plans to announce a new acquisition within the next six months and hopes for even more in the future to accelerate its ambitious strategy.

‘Financial strength’ of Danish Crown​

“There are two ways [to grow]​: organic growth and mergers and acquisitions. The organic growth in this business is limited because there are long-term contracts on the raw material front. There will be a reasonable bit of above-market organic growth, but the majority will be done through mergers and acquisitions.​

“Our business is so global that we have no places that we are not looking at. Of course, we are going after the areas with the biggest growth but our acquisition model is that we want to acquire good performing companies [who are] within the top three in their country. We also want to acquire companies where they have management already present.​”

DAT-Schaub​ has bought around 10 companies since 2002 and in none of these takeovers has the business replaced management with its own team.

The value of the ABC divestment has not been disclosed, but Roelsgaard said the cash received from the sale will not cover the capital needed to pay for the sheer number of acquisitions his company is chasing.
Roelsgaard praised the financial might of parent company Danish Crown​ that would make “a number of acquisitions highly likely​”.