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Biovela Group, the largest meat processing group in the Baltic region with a 2025 turnover exceeding EUR 330 million, today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in JSC Idavang, a leading operator of modern pig farming complexes. The proposed acquisition marks a major strategic shift toward a vertically integrated, farm-to-fork business model designed to bolster competitiveness in the wider European meat market.
The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory review and approval by the Competition Council. Until clearance is granted, both companies will continue to operate as entirely separate and independent market participants.
Building Scale to Compete with European Giants
Already established as the largest Baltic beef exporter, Biovela Group views this transaction as a catalyst for replicating its international success in the pork sector. The group recently invested EUR 8 million to launch the most modern pork slaughter line in the Baltics.
Acquiring Idavang guarantees a consistent, high-quality supply of raw materials to maximize this new capacity, while simultaneously giving Biovela Group strategic control over breeding, genetics, and traceability right from the farm level. This will allow the company to meet the exact specifications of European retail and B2B partners, while scaling up premium, value-added initiatives such as antibiotic-free pork.
"The European meat landscape is shifting, and to compete internationally with established Western European producers, we must control our entire value chain," said Audrius Kantauskas, Chairman of the Board in Biovela Group. "We are already the leading Baltic beef exporter, and this acquisition provides the scale and genetic control to become a highly formidable player in fresh pork. Together with Idavang, our ambition is to reverse the decline in regional pig numbers, drive supply chain efficiencies, and deliver highly traceable, high quality pork to our domestic and European partners."
Countering European Herd Declines
Across Europe, the pork sector is navigating a period of contraction, characterized by declining overall pig herd numbers and the pressing need for heightened biosecurity and operational efficiency. To thrive, market leaders are rapidly consolidating and vertically integrating.
Currently, the Baltics produce only about 50% of their domestic pork demand, relying heavily on imports. By integrating Idavang’s extensive farming network with Biovela’s advanced processing capabilities, the combined entity aims to aggressively reverse this downward trend. The ambition is to rebuild the regional pig herd and create the economies of scale required to compete head-to-head with the integrated meat giants of Poland and Western Europe.
Idavang is widely respected in the region for its high biosecurity standards, modern husbandry, and quality-driven operations. As a testament to the shared vision for future growth, Idavang's Founder and Chairman of the Board, Claus Baltsersen, will remain a shareholder and continue working alongside the existing management team.
"We have built a strong, quality-driven business, and the new shareholder will provide us with the necessary resources and infrastructure for further expansion. By becoming part of a shared value chain, we will not only ensure maximum traceability control right from the farm but also have the resources to significantly expand production, addressing the strategic need for self-sufficiency in local production," said Claus Baltsersen, Founder and Chairman of the Board at JSC Idavang.
"We are united by a shared approach to responsibility, quality, and the sustainable development of the pig farming sector," continues Mr. Kantauskas. "Together, we want to grow faster, expand our network of modern farms, and increase the national pig herd.”
By mutual agreement, the financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
April 16, 2026 - Biovela Group
