SARIA Food & Pharma has completed the acquisition of CTH Group (CTH), previously part of Darling Ingredients. The transaction closed on 1 October 2026, strengthening our global casings business and marking another important step in the division’s growth.

With more than 50 years of industry experience, CTH supplies natural, animal-based ingredients to the food, pet food and pharmaceutical industries, specialising in casings and meat by-products. Headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, the company also operates in Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and China. Its focus on high-quality, traceable and sustainable products makes it a strong fit with SARIA Food & Pharma.

The acquisition improves access to raw materials, strengthens our sourcing position and supports greater supply chain security. It also expands Van Hessen’s scale and VH Devro’s commercial reach, creating a stronger platform for future sales growth in the natural casings market.

Getting to know CTH

The integration process is now under way, with an initial focus on getting to know CTH’s people, processes and ways of working. Day-to-day priorities remain unchanged as both businesses continue supporting customers and suppliers and maintaining their high-quality standards.

By bringing together expertise, experience and knowledge from across both organisations, teams will be able to build on shared strengths and identify opportunities to learn from one another.

Another milestone in the integration of Van Hessen’s businesses has been reached: Westpol-Teeuwissen Sp. z o.o. has officially become Van Hessen Poland Sp. z o.o. The new name reflects the company’s closer integration into the global Van Hessen organisation while building on its strong heritage in Poland.

Every integration journey builds on existing strengths, knowledge and dedication. The Westpol name has a proud history and an important place in the development of the business in Poland. As the company transitions to Van Hessen Poland, the milestone also recognises the contribution employees have made to building a successful and respected organisation over many years. The transition builds on this legacy while connecting the business more closely with a larger global network, its shared ambitions, expertise and opportunities.

“The transition to Van Hessen Poland reflects the progress we have made together and brings us even closer as one global team. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this journey. By uniting behind one brand, we strengthen our ability to learn and support one another, and create exciting opportunities for future growth.” Mike Giblin, Operations Director

Growing Stronger Together

The next integration milestone, scheduled for later this year, will be the full tenant migration. This will enable colleagues from the former Westpol organisation to access broader Group systems, learning resources, collaboration platforms and professional development opportunities using their Van Hessen account credentials. These investments create new opportunities for development while enabling teams to share knowledge and best practices across borders.

“We are proud to officially become Van Hessen Poland. This milestone reflects the dedication of our employees and the strong foundations that have been built over many years. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to shaping the future together as part of the Van Hessen family.” Artur Ryckowski, Operations Director, Van Hessen Poland

Bringing the Culture Principles to Life

A shared brand also represents a shared culture, common purpose and commitment to working together as one team. As part of SARIA Food & Pharma, Van Hessen Poland is guided by the Culture Principles, with a focus on collaboration, continuous improvement, accountability and respect. They provide a common foundation for strengthening connections between teams and creating an environment where people can learn, develop and succeed together.

The official launch of Van Hessen Poland marks another important chapter in the integration. While the company name has changed, the foundations of the business remain the same: talented people, trusted customer relationships and a commitment to excellence.

Following SARIA Food & Pharma’s joint venture with Brazilian collagen producer Pepcol earlier this year, CEO Harald van Boxtel recently visited the team in Brazil. The visit offered a firsthand look at how the partnership is progressing and how both companies are combining their expertise to support future growth.

Since the transaction closed in July, colleagues from both organisations have been sharing expertise, strengthening ways of working and identifying opportunities for future growth. Harald’s visit offered a firsthand look at the progress being made across production, safety, quality and food safety.

One of the most significant developments is the construction of Pepcol’s second production line. Expected to begin operating in 2027, the additional line will help Pepcol respond to growing demand for bovine collagen peptides and strengthen SARIA Food & Pharma’s wider collagen portfolio.

The teams are also working together on practical improvements throughout the plant, including changes to equipment and processes that can support safer, more efficient production and enable Pepcol to develop collagen peptide solutions that respond to customer and market needs. Reflecting on the visit, Harald said: “Spending time with the Pepcol team reinforced my confidence that we have a trustworthy and reliable partner. By drawing on the strengths of both organizations, I’m convinced we can make this journey a success and build a competitive position in bovine collagen peptides.”

Pepcol CEO Malu Capobianco added: “The partnership has been collaborative from the beginning. Our teams are sharing their experience, working closely and developing solutions together. By combining Pepcol’s expertise in raw material processing and collagen production with SARIA Food & Pharma’s global reach and capabilities, we can accelerate innovation in nutrition and health, build long-term partnerships and deliver reliable, high-quality collagen peptide solutions for our customers.”

While there is still work ahead, the progress at Pepcol shows how investment, shared expertise and collaboration between SARIA Food & Pharma and Pepcol can create new opportunities and support long-term growth.

When Conagra Brands, maker of the iconic Slim Jim® snack, set out to achieve a Guinness World Records™ title for the World’s Longest Meat Snack Stick, Devro joined the challenge.

Measuring an incredible 429 feet, 5 inches and weighing nearly 70 pounds, the record-breaking meat snack stick stretched longer than a football field. While the finished product captured plenty of attention, the achievement began with something equally impressive: Devro’s ability to manufacture a continuous collagen casing of exceptional length, strength and consistency.

Creating a casing capable of exceeding 429 feet without compromising quality required significant technical expertise and production capability. The project demonstrated the reliability and performance of Devro’s collagen technology under highly demanding conditions, helping Conagra turn an ambitious idea into a world-record reality.

Beyond the record itself, the achievement highlights the value of strong customer partnerships and an innovative mindset. From developing customised solutions to meeting unique customer requirements, Devro supports customers in finding new ways to stand out in their markets.

“This accomplishment strengthened our partnership with Conagra and showcased Devro’s ability to deliver customized solutions for unique customer challenges.”
Lee Miles, Sales Director, North America

Business performance, innovation, transformation and corporate culture were at the heart of Bioiberica’s latest Management Team meeting near Barcelona. Over two days, the team reviewed recent developments and discussed key projects and priorities shaping the company’s future.

On October 1 and 2, Bioiberica’s Management Team came together at Món Sant Benet, next to the historic Monastery of Sant Benet de Bages near Barcelona, for a two-day meeting to review business developments, discuss future priorities and reflect on SARIA’s Cultural Principles.

Looking ahead

The working sessions covered current business performance and recent successful product launches, as well as key strategic projects, future priorities and challenges.

Innovation and diversification were among the key topics discussed, with updates on projects across Bioiberica’s different business areas. These included the marine collagen peptides project, part of SARIA Food & Pharma’s broader collagen platform, and the development of the new R&D Center at Bioiberica’s Palafolls site. The new facility will bring laboratories and pilot plants together under one roof and include a dedicated space for Fast-Track, Bioiberica’s multidisciplinary team supporting product and process development, scale-up and optimization.

The Management Team also discussed key transformation projects, including Workday, the new Human Capital Management platform, and the new ERP program, a broader business transformation initiative.

Putting Cultural Principles into practice

Business priorities were only one part of the agenda. Participantas also reflected on how SARIA’s Cultural Principles had been put into practice throughout the year. Working in small groups, they discussed real challenges they had faced and how these had been managed through the lens of the Cultural Principles.

Time to connect

The two days also created opportunities to connect outside the meeting room. The participants took part in a team activity inside the historic monastery, exploring its spaces while working together to solve a series of clues.