Cargill to exit Romanian animal nutrition market in deal with Carmistin

ROMANIA – Global agribusiness giant Cargill is set to divest its animal nutrition business in Romania, selling the unit to Romanian agri-food company Carmistin The Food Company, pending regulatory approval.

A spokesperson for Cargill Animal Nutrition emphasised the strategic timing of the decision, stating:

“Now is the right time for Cargill to transition the business and its employees to Carmistin, a company well-positioned to drive the next growth phase. We remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining business continuity for employees, customers, and partners.”

While financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed, Carmistin confirmed that the acquisition includes the entire Provimi Romania legal entity, encompassing two feed production facilities in the Craiova and Sibiu counties.

The Provimi brand, established in 1927 in the Netherlands, became part of Cargill in 2011. It has since leveraged Cargill’s global network for research, technical expertise, and innovative feed solutions for ruminants, poultry, and swine. 

With an extensive portfolio of premixes, additives, and specialty feeds, such as piglet feeds and milk replacers, Provimi has built a strong reputation in the industry.

According to Carmistin’s March 5th announcement, approximately 100 employees from the Cargill plants will transition to Carmistin, likely during the first half of 2025.

“By taking over Cargill’s animal nutrition operations, we aim to improve our production performance and capitalise on the experience and extraordinary potential of the Cargill team that will join us to continue supporting Romanian farmers with the best quality animal nutrition solutions,” said Cristina Popa, Deputy General Manager of Carmistin.

Carmistin assured stakeholders that business operations and product availability would remain uninterrupted during the transition. 

“Until the legal transfer procedures are completed, we want to firmly assure all employees, customers, and partners that activities and good collaborative relationships will not be disrupted or affected in any way.”

With operations across more than 40 companies spanning poultry, pork, cattle farming, and cereal production, Carmistin expects the acquisition to enhance its feed production capacity to serve its own farms better. The company currently operates feed mills in Vâlcea and Olt counties.

This divestment follows Cargill’s December 2024 announcement of a global workforce reduction of approximately 8,000 employees—around 5% of its total workforce—as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and enhance competitiveness.

At the time, Cargill stated: “We have a clear plan to evolve and strengthen our portfolio, capitalise on industry trends, and continue delivering for our customers.”

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