Livekindly Collective buys German plant-based peer Greenforce

Livekindly Collective has acquired Germany-based plant-based food manufacturer Greenforce Future Food.

In a statement, US-based Livekindly said the deal would help it "consolidate its position as one of the leading international players in the plant-based nutrition segment".

Livekindly CEO David Suarez said: "The integration of Greenforce is another important step in our strategy to lead this category – with a clear focus on growth and sustainable profitability."

Greenforce is led by CEO Thomas Isermann and markets plant-based meat, egg and cheese alternatives.

Livekindly did not clarify whether Isermann will remain with the business following the acquisition.

Founded in 2020, Greenforce is a privately owned, venture-backed business. Livekindly told Just Food the ownership before the transaction was shared between its founders and investors.

Livekindly declined to comment on how much it had paid for Greenforce and on the sales figures for either company.

The deal appears consistent with remarks Suarez made in a December interview with Just Food, when he said the plant-based category still had "too many small brands" and predicted further dealmaking.

"There's still too many small brands and there will be consolidation of those brands in the next couple of years," Suarez said at the time, adding that retail shelves would increasingly "consolidate into fewer players that drive the category".

Livekindly, which has been built largely through acquisitions, owns brands including Fry's, Oumph! and NoMeat.

Germany has been a focus for Livekindly, which already operates in the country through brands including Like. It describes Germany as "one of the most important" European markets for plant-based food.

Asked why it wanted to expand further in Germany, Livekindly said the country was a "growing market with potential" and pointed to Like's position as "the number two" brand in category. It did not provide data.

Greenforce sells through Germanyt's retail and foodservice channels, with its products stocked by major grocery chains including Rewe, Edeka and Kaufland.

The company operates in Germany and the wider DACH region.

Livekindly has indicated Greenforce's manufacturing site will not immediately be used to produce Livekindly products, saying the two companies currently "manufacture and deliver different product ranges".

"Livekindly Collective buys German plant-based peer Greenforce" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.