LIVEKINDLY Collective has completed its acquisition of Dalco Food B.V., a Netherlands-based manufacturer of plant-based foods, from UK-listed Hilton Food Group, strengthening its production and product-development capabilities across European retail, foodservice and business-to-business markets.
The financial terms of the completed transaction were not disclosed by LIVEKINDLY Collective. When the deal was announced in July 2026, Hilton Food Group valued the sale at £5.4 million, with the business transferring to LIVEKINDLY’s subsidiary, Livekindly Production.
Dalco primarily serves private-label, B2B and foodservice customers in the Netherlands and other European markets. The company brings manufacturing capacity, an in-house research and development department, product-development expertise and specialist breading capabilities to LIVEKINDLY Collective’s plant-based portfolio.
The acquisition comes as LIVEKINDLY Collective seeks to build a production platform that can serve both its own consumer brands and external customers, including retailers and food companies seeking private-label products and customised plant-based solutions.
Dalco adds manufacturing and product-development capabilities
Founded in 1975, Dalco has a long-standing presence in the plant-based food sector. Hilton Food Group acquired a 50 per cent stake in the business in 2019 before taking full ownership in 2021. Hilton said the divestment would allow it to focus investment on its core businesses.
The companies said Dalco’s works council had fully approved the takeover. LIVEKINDLY Collective plans to continue operations with Dalco’s existing team, retaining the workforce and operational expertise as it integrates the business into its wider production network.
“For retailers and food companies looking for partners in the plant-based sector, whether through branded products, in the B2B sector or as private labels, we now offer a range of services that few others in Europe can match,” said David Suarez, CEO of LIVEKINDLY Collective.
Building a broader European plant-based platform
Dalco is the group’s second acquisition agreement of 2026. In July, LIVEKINDLY Collective signed an agreement to acquire Greenforce, a Munich-based producer of plant-based meat, egg and cheese alternatives. LIVEKINDLY said it expected to finalise that transaction in the coming weeks.
The group sells brands including LIKE, Oumph! and Fry’s in more than 40 countries. It also received B Corp certification earlier in 2026, adding a sustainability credential to its international plant-based food business.
The Dalco acquisition strengthens the group’s ability to combine branded products with manufacturing and private-label services. That mix could provide access to customers that want plant-based offerings without building their own product-development and production capabilities.
The transaction also reflects a broader strategic focus on the infrastructure behind plant-based foods: product formulation, manufacturing capacity and partnerships with retailers and foodservice operators. These capabilities can help companies serve different market segments, although the commercial benefits will depend on customer demand, operational integration and the economics of production.
With Dalco now part of the group, LIVEKINDLY Collective aims to expand its role in Europe’s plant-based food supply chain, supplying its own brands while offering manufacturing and development services to external partners.
