Royal De Heus strengthens Asian presence with CJ Feed & Care acquisition

ASIA – Royal De Heus has expanded its Asian footprint with the acquisition of CJ Feed & Care’s operations across five countries, a move that signals the Dutch company’s ambition to reinforce its role in the global animal nutrition sector.

On October 1, 2025, De Heus signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of CJ Feed & Care’s businesses in Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines. 

The deal includes 17 feed mills and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending customary regulatory approvals.

The acquisition strengthens De Heus’ already solid presence in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia, while granting the company direct access to South Korea and the Philippines, two fast-growing markets with significant potential in animal protein production. 

Since its entry into Vietnam in 2009, De Heus has steadily expanded its presence in Asia, focusing on empowering local farmers with technical expertise and high-quality nutrition solutions.

Boosting farmer resilience and food security

De Heus said the deal is consistent with its strategy of supporting independent livestock and aquaculture farmers while ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food. 

By integrating CJ Feed & Care’s established local networks, De Heus aims to expand the availability of high-quality nutrition, genetics, and technical expertise to farmers.

Gabor Fluit, CEO of Royal De Heus, emphasised the broader impact of the acquisition. “We are excited to have signed this Share Purchase Agreement. This acquisition marks a significant step in strengthening our footprint across Asia. By combining our expertise in animal nutrition, farm management, and animal health with CJ Feed & Care’s strong local presence, we can create even greater value for our customers, partners, and the wider sector,” he said. 

“Together, we will continue empowering independent farmers and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable food system for generations to come.”

The acquisition aligns with De Heus’ mission to build competitive and sustainable local value chains for animal protein production, a critical component in meeting Asia’s growing demand for meat, eggs, and fish.

Kemin Industries also expands through CJ Bio subsidiary

In a related industry development, U.S.-based Kemin Industries announced on September 23, 2025, that it had acquired CJ Youtell Biotech, the enzymes and fermentation arm of CJ Bio.

The deal strengthens Kemin’s position in enzyme technologies for multiple sectors, including animal feed, aquaculture, food, textiles, pulp, paper, and biofuels.

The acquisition gives Kemin full ownership of CJ Youtell’s advanced fermentation plants in Shandong and Hunan, China, along with a broad enzyme product portfolio. 

The company said the move would enhance production efficiency, ensure supply chain resilience, and expand its capacity to deliver sustainable enzyme solutions globally.

“We are pleased to welcome CJ Youtell into the Kemin family. Adding CJ Youtell to our portfolio further enhances Kemin’s expertise and dedication to supply high-quality and innovative enzyme ingredients and solutions across industries and around the world,” said Dr. Chris Nelson, President and CEO of Kemin Industries.

The integration will also boost Kemin’s research and development capabilities with new laboratories and technical teams specialising in bioengineering, biochemistry, and enzyme formulation. 

According to the company, these resources will help optimise production costs while maintaining competitive pricing and high quality across markets.

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