Neovia announced Feb. 13 the acquisition of the Pilardière group, which is the third-largest producer of mineral supplements and nutritional specialties in France.

Neovia said it is investing in France so it can strengthen the positions of its premix and firm services business line while supplementing its international offering of high-value-added products and services.

Pilardière was incorporated in 1947 but has specialized in the production of customized minerals since 1974. The Pilardière group, based in Vendée, France, employs 44 people and produces more than 27,000 metric tons of mineral supplements, premixes and tailor-made nutritional specialties, primarily for ruminants.

Despite the decrease in the compound feed production in France since 2001, the country's highly competitive mineral and premix market has remained relatively stable, at approximately 300,000 mt per year. As the third-largest manufacturer in France, Pilardière enjoys long-term relationships and strong positions with manufacturer customers and private distributors. These relationships are based on in-depth knowledge of customer needs, a recognized expertise in marketing customized solutions and very good industrial quality and reactivity, the announcement said.

In addition to its main business of manufacturing customized minerals, the Pilardière group also has expertise in manufacturing salt licks for ruminants. This manufacturing process will supplement Neovia's industrial expertise and its offerings of licking buckets and other specialty ingredients.

Pilardière managing director Eric Quentin voiced his support for the merger, noting, "Belonging to an international group like Neovia will open new growth opportunities for our company and employees."

Pilardière will be part of Neovia's Wisium France division, which includes the premix and firm services business line in France. It will benefit from the group's international industrial knowledge as well as its leading expertise in research, development and formulation. Beyond that, Neovia's strong international presence opens up major growth opportunities for the group, primarily through the Wisium brand, according to the announcement.

Launched in 2016, Wisium already offers innovative premix and firm services solutions in more than 50 countries.

Neovia chief executive officer Hubert de Roquefeuil noted that Neovia continues "to invest in France for services and premium business lines. Pilardière's acquisition is a concrete illustration of this strategy and completes several other targeted acquisitions on the French market. This acquisition is expected to bring synergies, both from an industrial point of view, through the acquisition of specific expertise and, from a business point of view, through the possibility of selling new products and services in France and abroad."

Neovia has a turnover of 1.7 billion euros across seven business lines: complete feed, aquaculture, pet care, premix/firm services, additives and ingredients, animal health and analysis laboratories. It has 75 production sites and 8,300 employees in 28 countries.