CHICAGO — Food safety and quality company Mérieux NutriSciences, an Institut Mérieux subsidiary, announced it has entered an agreement to acquire the food testing business of Bureau Veritas for €360 million ($393.4 million USD). According to the company, the transaction will reinforce its position as a global leader in food testing, inspection and certification (TIC). 

The acquisition will extend the Mérieux NutriSciences’ operations to 32 countries and double its presence in Canada and the Asia Pacific region. 

“The acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ food testing business marks a pivotal milestone for Mérieux NutriSciences,” said Nicolas Cartier, chief executive officer of Mérieux NutriSciences. “It will significantly enhance our ability to serve our customers, and ultimately increase our contribution to the safety, quality and sustainability of global food systems. After the closing of the transaction, together with the 1,900 future colleagues joining us from Bureau Veritas, we will be even stronger in fulfilling our purpose: ‘Better Food. Better Health. Better World.’”

The scope of this deal covers Bureau Veritas’ food laboratory testing activities, which include microbiological and chemical analysis and molecular testing. These serve food sector customers through a network of 34 laboratories and 1,900 technical staff across 15 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Additionally, the company says it’s in discussions with AsureQuality, a New Zealand-based food assurance provider, to continue the joint ventures which currently exist between Bureau Veritas and AsureQuality in Australia and Southeast Asia.

“We are pleased to partner with Mérieux NutriSciences, a leader in food testing, whose global footprint and proven expertise is the perfect fit for our food business and would allow it to thrive and to contribute to make food systems safer, healthier and more sustainable,” said Hinda Gharbi, CEO of Bureau Veritas.

According to Mérieux NutriSciences, the TIC market is experiencing steady growth of around 5% annually, largely driven by rising consumer demand for food safety and quality, heightened stringency in regulations, sustainability and traceability of the food supply chain, and innovation in food technology. With a collaborative network of nearly 140 laboratories and over 10,000 employees, the company will be able to meet the evolving needs of the growing industry. 

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. 

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