Alexander Eyckeler has confirmed its sale to Dawn Meats, with the transaction approved by the relevant regulatory authorities.
Based in Erkrath, near Düsseldorf in Germany, Alexander Eyckeler is a leading importer and distributor of chilled and frozen meat.
The acquisition forms part of Dawn Meat’s ongoing integration with Alliance Group, following a deal struck last year which saw it acquire a 65% stake in the New-Zealand based meat processor.
Alliance Group already has an established partnership with Alexander Eyckeler as one of its largest suppliers for lamb, mutton and venison under its Ashley brand. Alexander Eyckler has represented the brand for more than 25 years, establishing a strong foothold in the German market over that period.
Observing the acquisition, Clive Black, vice chairman of Shore Capital said the deal is plainly a move to strengthen and deepen Dawn Meats’ “capabilities in the German market where Alliance clearly has a long track record”.
He cited the Dawn Meat CEO, Niall Brown, who – in a statement published online – said the deal will “bring Dawn Meats closer to key customers in Germany”, improve “co-ordination across supply and logistics”, and provide “continuity for the Eyckeler team and its customers”.
Black continued: “It [Dawn Meats] seeks to be closer to the market, where no doubt it will be seeking to underpin customer satisfaction, and so ongoing order flow.”
Adding his thoughts on the deal, Julian Wild, director of Wilkin Chapman Rollits, said: “Dawn Meats is an exemplar of how to develop and grow a highly focused, strategic food business and many other companies in the sector would do well to follow this model.”
He continued: “Expanding overseas is never easy, though Irish companies seem better at it than most, and this latest acquisition of Alexander Eyckeler is a very logical move by Dawn Meats into the important German market.
“The latest deal follows Dawn’s significant move into New Zealand with Alliance Group, and the acquirer has targeted a business in Germany with longstanding links to Alliance. This acquisition ticks all the right boxes and it is hard to see how it will be anything other than an unqualified success.
“Dawn’s management needs a lot of credit for a well thought through strategy, playing to the company’s own strengths and following a well-planned expansion course. Competitors should take note.”
Joint managing directors, Markus Wagner & Andreas Gitschel, as well as sales director of Dawn Meats Germany Egbert Klokkers, have said they are “confident” significant synergies will be realised.
“This development marks a new chapter in the company’s long-standing partnership with Alliance Group and its parent company Dawn Meats,” said Wagner.
“We are confident that the trusted relationships built over decades with all our customers and suppliers will remain at the heart of Alexander Eyckeler GmbH’s approach, with the current team continuing to manage key accounts and oversee daily operations. Customers and partners can be assured that the core values of quality, service and continuity will remain unchanged, preserving the legacy established by Alexander Eyckeler and the Eyckeler family in the German market.”
