The free range chicken farms industry in the Nordics focuses on raising poultry in a natural environment, emphasizing animal welfare and high-quality produce. Companies in this sector span farms, processing, and technology providers, each contributing to the overall supply chain. Recent consumer trends show a growing demand for ethically sourced food, pushing farms to innovate and adopt sustainable practices. Many businesses combine traditional farming methods with modern technology to optimize efficiency without compromising animal care. As a result, the industry is evolving toward greater transparency and sustainability, aligning with global movements for wholesome, humane food production.


This article explores eight influential investors in the Nordic free range chicken farms sector. These investors include corporate giants, venture capital firms, and private equity groups, with headquarters in major cities like Stockholm, Helsinki, and Copenhagen. Established between 1903 and 2021, their investment activity in 2024 shows substantial engagement in agriculture and food technology. Companies like Munters and Finnfund have made significant financial commitments, showcasing a shared commitment to responsible and innovative farming practices. Together, these investors intersect around a common goal: promoting sustainable growth in the poultry industry.


Top 8 Free Range Chicken Farms Investors in the Nordics


1. Munters

  • Website: munters.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1955
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: munters

Munters is a climate control solutions provider based in Stockholm, Sweden, specializing in energy-efficient products for industrial and agricultural applications. Founded in 1955, the company offers a range of products including dehumidifiers, air cleaning systems, and cooling solutions. Munters serves various sectors, including food agriculture, where precise climate control is crucial for enhancing productivity and sustainability. Notably, Munters has made strategic acquisitions to strengthen its position in the agricultural sector. In 2017, they acquired MTech Systems, a company focused on software systems for poultry and swine production, aiming to integrate advanced data analytics with climate control solutions. In 2015, they acquired Reventa, a German company specializing in climate control systems for livestock buildings, further solidifying their presence in the livestock sector. Most recently, in 2024, Munters announced the acquisition of Hotraco, a Dutch developer of control systems and sensors for agriculture, as part of their strategy to enhance their FoodTech portfolio. These transactions highlight Munters' commitment to improving agricultural practices, particularly in the poultry industry.


2. Finnfund

  • Website: finnfund.fi
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 1980
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: finnfund

Finnfund is a not-for-profit development financier and impact investor based in Helsinki, Finland, founded in 1980. The organization focuses on creating sustainable futures by investing in companies that tackle global development challenges, primarily in developing countries. Finnfund provides investment and advisory services to promote economic growth and sustainability across various sectors. Notably, Finnfund has invested in EthioChicken, an Ethiopian chicken company, contributing $5 million through the OP Finnfund Global Impact Fund I, aimed at job creation, food security, and poverty elimination. Additionally, Finnfund participated in a $10 million debt financing round for EthioChicken in 2016. These transactions highlight Finnfund's commitment to supporting the poultry industry, particularly in the context of sustainable and impactful farming practices.


3. Marel

  • Website: marel.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Garðabær, Garðabær, Iceland
  • Founded year: 1983
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • LinkedIn: marel

Marel is a corporate investor based in Garðabær, Iceland, founded in 1983. The company specializes in food processing equipment, providing advanced solutions for the poultry, meat, fish, and prepared foods industries. Marel's offerings include processing machinery, software solutions, and maintenance services aimed at improving efficiency and product quality through automation and innovative technology. Notably, Marel has made strategic acquisitions to enhance its position in the poultry processing market, including the acquisition of Poultry Machinery Joosten B.V. (PMJ) in January 2021, which focuses on duck processing. This acquisition allows Marel to broaden its poultry processing capabilities, which is relevant to the free range chicken sector. Additionally, Marel's acquisition of PMJ further solidifies its role as a full-line provider of poultry processing solutions, indicating their commitment to the poultry industry as a whole.


4. Yara Growth Ventures


Yara Growth Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Oslo, Norway, founded in 2021. The firm focuses on investing in innovative startups and funds within the agriculture and clean hydrogen sectors. They provide financial support and strategic guidance to help their portfolio companies develop and scale their solutions. Yara Growth Ventures aims to facilitate significant advancements in sustainable agriculture and energy by leveraging their extensive network. Notable transactions include investments in companies like Agrofy, an Argentine farmer marketplace that raised $30 million to enhance its e-commerce platform and expand operations, and Tarfin, which raised $8 million to strengthen its offerings to farmers in Turkey. These investments reflect Yara's commitment to supporting agricultural innovation, which could encompass free range chicken farming as part of their broader agricultural focus.


5. Maki.vc

  • Website: maki.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 2018
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: maki-vc

Maki.vc is a venture capital firm based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, founded in 2018. The firm specializes in seed-stage investments in deep tech and brand-driven companies, providing funding and support to early-stage startups to help them navigate growth and innovation challenges. Maki.vc operates primarily in the Nordic region but maintains a global investment mandate. Notably, Maki.vc has participated in funding rounds for Onego Bio, a startup focused on producing egg white without chickens, which raised EUR 10 million in seed funding from Maki.vc and others. This investment highlights Maki.vc's interest in innovative food technologies, which could be relevant to the free range chicken farms sector. Additionally, Maki.vc was involved in a $40 million Series A funding round for Onego Bio, further emphasizing their commitment to the food production industry.


6. Polaris Private Equity


Polaris Private Equity is a private equity firm based in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 1998. The firm specializes in investment management, focusing on supporting mid-sized companies in the Nordic region through tailored investment strategies that include private equity, flexible capital, and public equity. Polaris partners with management teams to drive growth and operational improvements, helping these companies realize their full potential. Notably, Polaris has been involved in several relevant transactions in the agricultural sector, including the acquisition of HAMLET PROTEIN, which specializes in animal nutrition, and Salfarm, which is involved in the poultry industry. These transactions highlight Polaris's interest in companies that could be linked to the free range chicken farming sector, indicating their potential relevance as an investor in this field.


7. Novax

  • Website: novax.se
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1999
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: novax-ab

Novax is a venture capital firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1999. The firm focuses on supporting and developing small and medium-sized growth companies across various sectors, including health, technical security, sustainable food, and digital retail infrastructure. Novax provides investment, advisory services, and fosters a collaborative ecosystem to enhance the growth potential of its portfolio companies. Notably, Novax has been involved in several transactions relevant to the sustainable food sector, such as their investment in Gårdsfisk, which raised $4,993,393 in a Series A round aimed at promoting sustainable food production. Additionally, they acquired MSK Ingredients, a UK-based leader in specialty ingredients for the food industry, which aligns with their focus on sustainability and quality in food production. These transactions highlight Novax's commitment to investing in innovative and sustainable food solutions, reinforcing their relevance in the context of free range chicken farms.


8. Atria Plc

  • Website: atria.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Finland
  • Founded year: 1903
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: atria-plc

Atria Plc is a Finnish corporate investor founded in 1903, specializing in food manufacturing with a focus on meat and poultry products. The company operates in Northern Europe and emphasizes sustainability and animal welfare in its production processes. In 2024, Atria completed the acquisition of Atria Gooh AB, a convenience food business, which reflects their strategy to grow in the convenience food category. Additionally, they acquired Aalbaek Specialiteter, Denmark's largest manufacturer of organic cold cuts, in 2015, which is expected to enhance their sales significantly. While these transactions primarily focus on convenience and processed foods, Atria's core business in poultry products suggests a potential interest in free range chicken farming, making them a relevant player in this sector.



Free Range Chicken Farms Insights: Key Investors in the Nordics


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
MuntersStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-500019554
FinnfundHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland51-20019807
MarelGarðabær, Garðabær, Iceland5001-1000019830
Yara Growth VenturesOslo, Oslo, Norway1-1020214
Maki.vcHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland1-10201811
Polaris Private EquityCopenhagen, Denmark51-20019984
NovaxStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden11-5019993
Atria PlcFinland1001-500019032


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