The poultry feed industry in Benelux is a critical component of the broader agricultural economy, focusing on optimizing the nutrition and health of poultry animals. Companies in this sector offer various feed products tailored to specific poultry types, including broilers and layers. Innovations in feed formulations and sustainability practices are driving growth, with an increasing emphasis on alternative protein sources and eco-friendly production methods. For instance, the integration of insects and plant-based ingredients is gaining traction, responding to both consumer demands for sustainable options and regulatory pressures for improved animal welfare. As the industry adapts, it holds vast potential for investment and innovation.


The investors highlighted in this list represent a mix of corporate entities, venture capital, private equity firms, and impact investors, located across Belgium and the Netherlands. With an array of sizes—from small firms to large corporations—most were founded in the latter half of the 20th century. In 2024, collectively, they completed over 300 investment deals, reflecting their significant involvement in poultry feed ventures. This underscores their potential impact in shaping the future of the feed industry, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and animal welfare.


Top 15 Poultry Feed Investors in Benelux


1. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Founded in 1958, the EIC offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC also provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in multiple sectors. Notably, the EIC has been involved in funding transactions relevant to the poultry feed industry, such as grants to Aviwell, a company focused on poultry health, and investments in FarmInsect, which is engaged in insect technology that could potentially be applied in animal feed, including poultry. These transactions highlight the EIC's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the agricultural sector, making it a relevant investor for poultry feed initiatives.


2. Nutreco

  • Website: nutreco.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: nutreco

Nutreco is a leading animal nutrition company based in Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands, founded in 1994. The company specializes in providing innovative feed solutions for livestock and aquaculture, with a strong emphasis on enhancing productivity and supporting animal health. Nutreco serves farmers and feed producers, focusing on sustainable practices to meet the growing global demand for food. Notable transactions include the acquisition of Hi-Pro Feeds, a prominent manufacturer of high-performance animal feed in North America, which indicates their commitment to expanding their feed portfolio. Additionally, their acquisition of Animal Nutrition and Health (ANH) in South Africa and the establishment of Skretting Nigeria further demonstrate their strategic efforts to enhance their presence in various markets, although these transactions are more focused on ruminants and aquaculture. Nevertheless, their expertise in animal nutrition positions them as a potential investor in the poultry feed sector.


3. European Investment Bank (EIB)


The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a public entity based in Luxembourg that provides financial services, including loans, equity investments, guarantees, and advisory services, to support sustainable projects across various sectors. Founded in 1958, the EIB aims to promote growth and job creation through its funding initiatives. In the context of poultry feed, the EIB has made significant investments, such as a €40 million loan to Devenish Nutrition, an agri-technology company focused on research and development in animal nutrition. This funding is intended to support the development of a Global Innovation Centre and enhance innovation in animal feed. Additionally, the EIB has invested in In Ovo, a Dutch company dedicated to hatching female chicks to prevent the culling of male chicks, which aligns with sustainable practices in the poultry industry. These transactions highlight the EIB's commitment to advancing the poultry sector and improving animal welfare through innovative funding solutions.


4. dsm-firmenich

  • Website: dsm-firmenich.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: dsmfirmenich

dsm-firmenich is a for-profit company based in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands, operating in the nutrition, health, and beauty sectors. The company offers a wide range of products, including fragrances, nutritional supplements, and active pharmaceutical ingredients, serving various industries with innovative solutions aimed at enhancing product offerings and addressing sustainability challenges. Notably, dsm-firmenich has been involved in several transactions relevant to the poultry feed context, such as their investment in Deep Branch Biotechnology, a UK-based alternative feed ingredient producer, which raised €8M in a Series A funding round. This investment highlights dsm-firmenich's commitment to supporting sustainable and innovative solutions in animal nutrition. Additionally, their participation in funding rounds for companies like Meatable and Paleo, which focus on alternative protein sources, further demonstrates their engagement in the broader food production landscape, including poultry feed.


5. Eurofins

  • Website: eurofins.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 1987
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: eurofins

Eurofins Scientific SE is a prominent laboratory testing company founded in 1987, headquartered in Luxembourg. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees and a global presence across 62 countries, Eurofins specializes in a wide range of analytical and testing services for various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food, and environmental sectors. Notably, Eurofins has made several strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities in food and feed testing. In 2021, they acquired Alliance Technical Laboratories Ltd, which significantly bolstered their food, water, and feed testing services in the UK. This acquisition aligns with their commitment to quality assurance and compliance in the food supply chain, including poultry feed. Additionally, Eurofins has acquired other companies like Nab Labs Group Oy and EUROFINS Food Analytica, further expanding their analytical services. These transactions highlight Eurofins' active role in the testing and diagnostics sector, particularly in relation to food and feed safety.


6. Cvc

  • Website: cvc.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: cvc-capital-partners

CVC Capital Partners is a prominent investment firm based in Luxembourg, specializing in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure. Founded in 2005, the firm manages approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. CVC has a strong focus on delivering sustainable value and growth through strategic investments. Notably, CVC acquired Provimi in November 2002, a significant player in the animal nutrition sector, which includes poultry feed. This acquisition highlights CVC's commitment to the poultry feed industry. Additionally, their diverse portfolio includes investments in various sectors, such as veterinary services with Medivet and dairy with Dodoni, showcasing their broad investment strategy while maintaining a foothold in the agricultural and animal nutrition sectors.


7. Azelis

  • Website: azelis.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 2001
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: azelis

Azelis is a specialty chemical distributor and innovation service provider founded in 2001, headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium. The company serves over 63,000 customers across life sciences and industrial sectors, providing high-quality raw materials and innovative formulations. In recent years, Azelis has made several strategic acquisitions to strengthen its market position. Notably, they acquired Tunçkaya, a Turkish distributor of food ingredients and additives, which enhances their footprint in the food market, potentially including poultry feed. Additionally, their acquisition of Agspec Australia Pty Ltd aims to bolster their presence in agricultural markets, reflecting their commitment to innovation in crop nutrition and protection, which is relevant to poultry feed production. These transactions indicate Azelis's active role in sectors that intersect with poultry feed, making them a relevant investor in this category.


8. Anterra Capital

  • Website: anterracapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2013
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: anterra-capital

Anterra Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2013. The firm specializes in agrifood technology investments, focusing on startups that leverage biotechnology and digital solutions to enhance food production and sustainability. Anterra Capital has been involved in several notable transactions that highlight their commitment to the agrifood sector. For instance, they participated in the Series A funding round for Ashish Life Science, an Indian animal health startup, which raised $6.3 million to scale its business and expand into regulated markets, including Europe. Additionally, Anterra Capital's collaboration with Nutreco, a European animal nutrition company, in the acquisition of a minority stake in BiomEdit, underscores their engagement in the animal nutrition space. These transactions reflect Anterra's strategic focus on improving food systems and supporting innovative companies in the agrifood sector, including those related to poultry feed.


9. ForFarmers

  • Website: forfarmersgroup.eu
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Lochem, Gelderland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2007
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: forfarmers-b.v.

ForFarmers N.V. is an agricultural company based in Lochem, Gelderland, Netherlands, specializing in complete feed solutions for livestock farming, including poultry. Founded in 2007, the company has established itself as a key player in the agricultural supply chain across multiple European countries. ForFarmers focuses on sustainable practices and provides tailored advice and support to farmers, ensuring the health and productivity of their animals. In recent years, ForFarmers has made significant acquisitions to enhance its market position in the feed industry. Notably, in 2018, they acquired Tasomix, which has strengthened their feed offerings. In 2023, ForFarmers/Tasomix agreed to acquire Piast Pasze Sp. z.o.o., aiming to merge their feed activities and increase their volume by 410,000 tonnes, pending approval from the Polish competition authority. Additionally, in 2024, ForFarmers announced an agreement to acquire Van Triest Veevoeders, further expanding their capabilities in trading residual flows and co-products related to feed. These transactions highlight ForFarmers' active role in the feed sector, including poultry feed, making them a relevant investor in this category.


10. Incofin Investment Management


Incofin Investment Management is an impact investment firm based in Antwerp, Belgium, founded in 2009. The firm focuses on financing and supporting organizations in emerging markets, with a strong emphasis on promoting financial inclusion and sustainable development. Incofin offers a range of services, including equity investments, debt financing, and technical assistance. Notably, they have been involved in several transactions relevant to the poultry feed industry, such as their debt financing of Couvoir Amar, a company directly engaged in poultry operations. Additionally, their investment in Sahyadri Farms, which raised significant capital to expand its agricultural processing capabilities, further highlights their commitment to the agricultural sector. Incofin's diverse portfolio includes investments in agritech platforms like SuperZop, which, while not exclusively focused on poultry, contributes to the broader agricultural ecosystem.


11. Louis Dreyfus Company

  • Website: ldc.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1851
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: louis-dreyfus-company

Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. is a for-profit agricultural merchant and processor founded in 1851, headquartered in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands. The company operates across various sectors, including food processing, bioenergy, and transportation, supplying a wide range of agricultural products to businesses in the food and beverage industry. In recent years, LDC has been involved in several funding rounds that, while not directly related to poultry feed, indicate their commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability. For instance, their investment in Benson Hill, which focuses on developing healthier and more sustainable food options, aligns with the broader goals of improving agricultural practices. Additionally, their participation in funding rounds for companies like Comet Biorefining and TRACT suggests a strategic interest in enhancing agricultural supply chains, which could encompass poultry feed production. Overall, LDC's extensive experience and diverse portfolio position them as a relevant investor in the poultry feed sector.


12. SHIFT Invest

  • Website: shiftinvest.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: shift-invest

SHIFT Invest is a venture capital fund based in Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in impact investing, targeting innovative enterprises that have significant potential for environmental impact. They provide funding and support to early-stage companies across various sectors, including energy transition, smart food & agriculture, and sustainable mobility. Notably, SHIFT Invest has participated in funding rounds for NutriLeads, a Dutch startup focused on nutritional health ingredients, which may have applications in the poultry feed industry. Their investments in NutriLeads include a Series A round in 2017 and a Series B round in 2020, indicating a commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the food sector. Additionally, they were involved in ChainCraft, a company that raised funds for scaling its operations, which may also relate to sustainable food production. These transactions highlight SHIFT Invest's interest in the agricultural sector, although their specific focus on poultry feed remains ambiguous.


13. Triton Partners


Triton Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 1997. The firm specializes in private equity and credit investments in European mid-market businesses, focusing on sectors such as Business Services, Industrial Tech, and Healthcare. Triton Partners has a history of acquiring companies that operate in the agricultural sector, including Fertiberia, which is involved in the production of fertilizers that can be essential for feed crops, and Geia Food, which may have connections to food production and supply chains relevant to poultry. Their approach involves partnering with management teams to address challenges and drive growth, which is crucial for companies in the poultry feed industry looking to expand and innovate.


14. Agri Investment Fund

  • Website: aifund.be
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1890
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn:

Agri Investment Fund is a private equity investor based in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 1890. The fund specializes in the agricultural sector, particularly in Ag-Tech and Agro-Food companies, providing financial support and advisory services to both startups and established businesses. Their mission is to enhance sustainability and innovation within the agricultural industry. Notable transactions include investments in ViroVet, a biopharmaceutical company focused on veterinary products that can improve livestock health, and Aphea.Bio, an agricultural technology company that has raised significant funding for its innovations. While their recent investments do not directly target poultry feed, their involvement in animal health and agricultural technology positions them as a relevant player in the broader agricultural ecosystem, which includes poultry feed.


15. Royal De Heus


Royal De Heus, founded in 1911 and based in Ede, Gelderland, Netherlands, is a corporate investor specializing in animal nutrition. The company provides a wide range of products, including compound feed, premixes, and concentrates, catering to farmers and businesses in the livestock and aquaculture sectors. Notably, De Heus has made significant acquisitions to enhance its market presence, including the acquisition of Masan Group's feed business in Vietnam, which encompasses 13 feed mills and a premix plant with a production capacity of nearly 4 million tons. This acquisition, announced in November 2021, underscores their strategic focus on expanding their footprint in the feed industry. Additionally, in December 2007, De Heus acquired Nutrex KZN (Pty) Ltd., a feed company in South Africa, further solidifying their commitment to enhancing their operations in markets with high agricultural potential. These transactions highlight De Heus's active role in the poultry feed sector and their dedication to improving animal health and farm productivity.



Poultry Feed Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
NutrecoAmersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands10001+19941
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
dsm-firmenichMaastricht, Limburg, Netherlands10001+3
EurofinsLuxembourg10001+19878
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
AzelisAntwerp, Flanders, Belgium1001-500020015
Anterra CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020139
ForFarmersLochem, Gelderland, Netherlands1001-500020071
Incofin Investment ManagementAntwerp, Flanders, Belgium51-20020099
Louis Dreyfus CompanyRotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands10001+18515
SHIFT InvestAmstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020094
Triton PartnersLuxembourg201-50019976
Agri Investment FundLeuven, Flanders, Belgium1-1018903
Royal De HeusEde, Gelderland, Netherlands5001-1000019110


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