IRVING, Texas – Darling International Inc. completed its acquisition of Netherlands-based Vion Ingredients for approximately for €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) in cash.

Vion Ingredients is based in Son en Breugel, the Netherlands, and is a leading developer and producer of specialty ingredients of animal origin for use in pharmaceuticals, food, feed, pet food, fertilizer and bioenergy. The firm consists of a global network of 58 facilities that cover all aspects of animal by-product processing under six brands — Rendac (rendering), Sonac (proteins, fats, edible fats and blood products), Ecoson (green power), Rousselot (gelatin), CTH (natural casings), and Best Hides (hides). Dirk Kloosterboer will continue as CEO of the company.


Darling International recycles beef, poultry and pork by-products into useable ingredients such as tallow, feed-grade fats, meat and bone meal, poultry meal and hides. The company also recovers and converts used cooking oil and commercial bakery residuals into valuable feed and fuel ingredients.