Orkla buys Austrian maker of margerines, sauces Senna

Orkla’s ingredients business unit has agreed to buy Senna, the Austrian producer of margarine, sauces and dressings, from Vivatis Holding.

Financial terms of the transaction were not revealed.

In a statement yesterday (17 February), Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI) said the acquisition “strengthens” its position in central and south-eastern Europe.

Manuela Banu, the CEO of OFI in the region, said: “Austria and Italy represent new markets for OFI, where we aim to grow profitably by introducing a broader set of categories and by driving operational efficiency.”

According to its website, Senna operates in over 20 countries and runs Austria’s only margarine production facility at its headquarters in Vienna.

Established in 1927, the company supplies customers in the foodservice, artisan bakery and industrial markets and employs 120 people.

The business reported sales of around €80m ($92.6m) in 2025.

In a separate statement, Vivatis said it is divesting Senna following a “comprehensive strategic process”.

It added: “The aim was to ensure the long-term strength, competitiveness, and sustainable success of the company.

“Various strategic options were examined to guarantee the sustainable development, long-term viability, and relevance of the brand in Austria and established export markets.”

Senna will continue to operate from its headquarters in Austria.

According to Vivatis, OFI’s industry knowledge and European footprint will drive the development and the international expansion of the Senna brand.

Gerald Hackl, the CEO of Vivatis, said: “With the sale of Senna to Orkla Food Ingredients, we are creating long-term prospects for Senna and simultaneously strengthening its market presence through new synergies. We are convinced that Orkla Food Ingredients provides the right foundation for the successful further development of the brand.”

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, contingent on regulatory approval.

Christof Kessler, the CEO of Senna, added: “Under Vivatis, we strengthened our expertise and created a solid foundation for further growth. We are delighted to become part of Orkla Food Ingredients, whose business model and in-depth industry knowledge offer an excellent platform for Senna’s next phase of development.”

In October 2023, Norwegian parent Orkla sold a 40% stake in OFI to private-equity firm Rhône, valuing the ingredients unit at Nkr15.5bn (then $1.4bn).

OFI, established by Orkla in 1999, supplies a wide range of customers in the bakery, ice cream, and plant-based product sectors.

“Orkla buys Austrian maker of margerines, sauces Senna” was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.