The WH Group announced that its Smithfield subsidiary has further expanded operations in Europe by agreeing to acquire 100% of Romanian meat companies Elit and Vericom. The transaction is subject to anti-monopoly approval from relevant regulatory authorities.

Elit and Vericom operate three packaged meat manufacturing facilities, five distribution centers and related assets in Romania. Through a nationwide distribution network to more than 12,000 customers, the two companies manufacture and sell approximately 25,000 metric tons of branded, packaged meats annually (with the capacity to grow to 45,000 metric tons).

WH Group said it expects the acquisitions to give Smithfield a leading position in the Romanian packaged meat market with a branded portfolio of products sold in the higher-margin traditional channel.