PRESS RELEASE

Son en Breugel, the Netherlands, 31st July 2008

European Commission approves VION acquisition of Grampian

The European Commission has today approved the acquisition of Grampian Country Food Group by VION Food Group.
The UK operations of the two businesses will be integrated to create VION UK. This business will be managed from the UK and led by Ton Christiaanse who will be appointed CEO, VION UK. Ton Christiaanse is currently COO of VION’s Convenience Division. Peter Barr, formerly Chairman, of the Meat and Livestock Commission in the UK, will be appointed as non-executive Chairman of the Board of VION UK.

VION N.V.
VION N.V. is an internationally operating food company that produces high-quality foodstuffs and ingredients for humans and animals. The group consists of three divisions: Ingredients, Fresh Meat and Convenience. VION has an annual turnover of more than € 7.1 billion and employs 18,000 people worldwide. VION is a non-listed company and has a single agricultural shareholder: the Zuidelijke Land- en tuinbouworganisatie ZLTO (Dutch Southern Agricultural and Horticultural Farmers Union) which has 18,000 members. VION's head office is located in Son en Breugel, the Netherlands.

Grampian
Grampian Country Food Group Ltd was founded in Scotland in 1980 and has developed into one of the UK's leading food companies, supplying the major multiples with chicken, pork, beef and lamb. The company currently employs 17,500 staff (of which 4,500 in Thailand), with an annual turnover of £1.7 billion (€ 2.5 billion) and has production locations in the UK and Thailand. The head office is located in Livingston, Scotland.


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Note for the editors
For further information please contact: VION UK Press Office +44 208 181 4319
press@vionfood.co.uk