Swiss food and beverage giant Nestlé has announced the full acquisition of Yfood, a Germany-based company specializing in “ready-to-drink” nutritional meals. The move marks the completion of a multi-year integration process, following Nestlé’s initial 49% stake investment in the firm in 2023.
A Strategic Shift in Ownership
This transaction represents the first acquisition completed by Nestlé since CEO Philipp Navratil assumed leadership of the group in September. While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the deal signals Nestlé’s continued focus on the functional food and convenience beverage sector.
Yfood, which was founded in 2017 by Ben Kremer and Noël Bollmann, has grown its footprint to include distribution in 30 countries. According to data provided by Nestlé, the company generated sales of approximately €150 million in 2025, a figure the parent company described as reflecting “double-digit year-on-year growth.”
Leadership Transition and Market Expansion
With the acquisition finalized, leadership of the Munich-based entity will transition to Jolanda Schwirtz, who previously served in an intrapreneurial and synergy-focused role within the company. Founders Kremer and Bollmann, who served as co-CEOs during the transition period, indicated that the sale is intended to facilitate Yfood’s next phase of global growth.
“The next step for Yfood is global,” Bollmann said in a statement. “To achieve that, the brand needs a partner with worldwide distribution and infrastructure. The past three years of partnership with Nestlé have proven that Yfood scales profitably across borders.”
Broader Context in the Nutrition Market
The acquisition of Yfood highlights the intensifying competition in the meal-replacement and functional beverage market. Earlier this year, in March, industry rival Danone reportedly agreed to acquire Huel, a key competitor in the space, for approximately €1 billion ($1.16 billion).
Nestlé noted that its strategy for Yfood involves leveraging the firm’s established brand equity and product innovation to pursue expansion into markets outside of Europe. The integration is expected to utilize Nestlé’s extensive global infrastructure to scale Yfood’s product line, which has previously attracted investment from major industry players such as the dairy group Fonterra.
By bringing the company fully under its corporate umbrella, Nestlé aims to secure a stronger position in the health-conscious consumer segment, prioritizing products that offer both convenience and nutritional value.
