Swedish vegan food distributor Kale Foods has acquired the Färsodlarna brand of plant-based meat from investment company Novax.
Kale Foods, the distribution arm of Swedish agrifood tech investor Kale United, is bolstering its footprint in the national plant-based market with the acquisition of meat alternative brand Färsodlarna.
The deal sees Kale Foods take over both the brand and retail business of Färsodlarna from investment firm Novax. It takes effect immediately, with Kale Foods viewed as the ideal partner to drive Färsodlarna’s next growth phase.
“Kale Foods is the perfect buyer to manage and further develop Färsodlarna. They have the right infrastructure, passion, and ecosystem required to take the brand to the next level,” said Färsodlarna CEO Oddgeir Hole.
Swedish meat consumption declines as dietary guidelines champion plant proteins
Founded in 2020, Färsodlarna sells a range of clean-label meat alternatives made from Swedish crops like sweet lupin beans, grey peas, field beans, and rapeseed.
Its product range includes whole-food plant-based mince, meatballs, burgers and kebabs, which are sold in supermarkets and foodservice outlets alike.
“We are incredibly proud of the journey we have made with Färsodlarna and how we have managed to put Swedish-grown proteins on the map,” said Hole.
The company was established by Novax, the investment arm of Axel Johnson Group, which funds small and medium-sized growth companies with the ambition to create large businesses.
The sale to Kale Foods comes as meat consumption declines in the country. According to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, meat intake per kg fell by 1% in 2025, while chicken consumption dipped by nearluy 3%.
This coincided with last year’s update to Sweden’s dietary guidelines, in which the National Food Agency embedded sustainability considerations and emphasised a higher intake of plant-based whole foods. This was echoed by a 2025 study by Swedish researchers, who analysed the diets of over 26,000 participants and found that the most climate-friendly diets were lower in animal-sourced foods.
This year, polling across the Nordic region shows that around 21% of consumers are buying less meat, and 14% agree that cutting back on its consumption is one of the most effective climate actions.
And in 2024, research revealed that Swedish diets rich in plant-based alternatives were associated with significantly lower emissions (30-52%), land use (20-45%), and freshwater consumption (14-27%).
Kale United bets on consolidation to grow plant-based footprint
For Kale Foods, the purchase of Färsodlarna is a “strategic step forward” to consolidate the Nordic plant-based food market. It’s in line with the company’s long-term plan to build a platform of premium plant-based brands through strategic acquisitions.
The Kale United-owned distributor will begin incorporating Färsodlarna’s sales and retail business into its organisation straight away. “This acquisition is a direct continuation of our outlined M&A strategy,” said Kale Foods CEO Conny Swahn.
“By adding Färsodlarna to the Kale Foods family, we not only broaden our retail offering, but we also create clear synergies in distribution, marketing, and sales. We see enormous potential in further scaling up Färsodlarna’s fantastic products.”
Kale United owns a range of plant-based brands in Sweden, including Lily & Hanna’s, Astrid & Aporna, and VegMe. It’s also an investor in some of the world’s leading alternative protein startups, such as Impossible Foods, Eat Just, Heura Foods, Livekindly Collective, This, and Opalia, among others.
The Färsodlarna takeover is the latest in a long list of consolidatory moves in the future food sector. Since September 2024, more than 70 alternative protein firms have either merged, been bought out or acquired, fallen into insolvency, or shut down.
In Sweden, potato milk maker Dug Foodtech and alternative seafood startup Hooked Foods ceased operations last year. And vegan cheesemaker Stockeld Dreamery sold off its tech and equipment to PlanetDairy, and its brand to Bettani Farms after deciding to close the business due to a lack of funding.
