Veynat, a group specialising in the transport of liquid foodstuffs, has acquired Fileyssant. This strategic move will enable Veynat to expand its range of services to include milk collection and transport. Here is an explanation and analysis by the experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
Veynat has announced its continued strategy of inorganic growth with the acquisition of Transports Fileyssant, a Périgord-based company with a 2023 turnover of €1.5 million. Founded in 2012, Transports Fileyssant specialises in milk collection and transport, with a fleet of around ten vehicles and an equivalent team size. This strategic acquisition represents a significant milestone for the Veynat Group, as it enters the milk collection sector, thereby diversifying its business portfolio beyond its core competencies in the transportation of liquid food products. For Pierre-Olivier Veynat, the group’s CEO, this transaction fulfils a long-standing demand from its customers in the dairy industry.
A European player
The Veynat Group was founded in Bordeaux in 1884 and has since become a major player in the food transport sector. In 2023, the company generated sales of €196 million with a workforce of 1,235 employees (including 900 drivers). It operates via 24 operating entities, subsidiaries and agencies in France and abroad, offering its customers a comprehensive range of services covering the whole of Europe. The company specialises in the transport of liquid foodstuffs by tanker, including wine, juice, alcohol and, more recently, milk. It operates on behalf of producers throughout Europe, with a strong presence in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Offensive inorganic growth
The Group has experienced significant growth, with an 81% increase over the past decade, driven primarily by an assertive acquisition strategy. Notable acquisitions include Dallet Transport in Deux Sèvres (2015), a specialist in local road haulage, and the Dacquin Group in Nord-Pas-de-Calais (2023). In 2024, the Group secured a base from which to target the German market by acquiring the Alsatian family-owned SME, Transports Klein.
Multimodal ambitions
The group is now planning to increase its efforts in the field of combined transport. A pioneer in the field of road-rail transport, this Bordeaux-based group faces a number of challenges, not least the perishable nature of liquid food products. The Veynat group has recently made significant investments in the development of combined transport, by establishing a multimodal department with a fleet of container semi-trailers and container geolocation systems. To achieve these objectives, the group is relying on the development of European freight and is committed to reducing its carbon footprint.
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Road haulage of foodstuffs is currently under pressure due to fluctuating diesel prices, forcing companies in the sector to invest heavily in greening their fleets. Against this backdrop, there is an increasing trend towards concentration, with small, family-run businesses finding it difficult to remain competitive and becoming the target of large, international companies. AURIS Finance’s experts are specialised by sector. They are at your side throughout your buyout and sale operations.
