Mérieux NutriSciences acquisition and new initiatives: highlights of 2024

These moves reaffirm Mérieux NutriSciences’ leadership in advancing food safety standards and fostering stronger collaboration across the food industry

The year 2024 has been a pivotal year for Mérieux NutriSciences, marked by strategic acquisitions and innovative initiatives to enhance global food safety and sustainability. The company’s notable achievements include acquiring Bureau Veritas’ food testing business for EUR 360 million and launching forward-thinking projects like the Trusted Third Party initiative. These moves reaffirm Mérieux NutriSciences’ leadership in advancing food safety standards and fostering stronger collaboration across the food industry, positioning the company for continued growth and innovation.

Mérieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability, has announced its agreement to acquire the food testing business of Bureau Veritas for an enterprise value of EUR 360 million. Supported by its parent company, Institut Mérieux, this strategic acquisition underscores Mérieux NutriSciences’ commitment to advancing safer, healthier, and more sustainable food systems worldwide.

The acquisition includes Bureau Veritas’ food laboratory testing operations, which provide microbiological, chemical, and molecular testing services. These services cater to the food sector across a global network of 34 laboratories and 1,900 technical staff in 15 countries, spanning the Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Earlier this year, in April, bioMérieux and Mérieux NutriSciences jointly launched a data-driven Trusted Third Party initiative. This initiative, developed in partnership with leading food industry players, aims to foster safer industry collaboration and improve the anticipation and prevention of food safety risks.

Despite the industry’s best efforts, food safety and quality challenges persist, leading to public health risks, product recalls, and operational disruptions. Addressing these ongoing challenges requires moving beyond traditional auditing, certification, and testing methods. As leaders in food safety, bioMérieux and Mérieux NutriSciences remain committed to exploring innovative ways to enhance existing systems and safeguard public health.

Last September, Mérieux NutriSciences Corporation and Malaysian conglomerate Texchem Resources Bhd announced the divestment of Mérieux NutriSciences Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (“MXNS Malaysia”) to ALS Technichem (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. MXNS Malaysia, which offers a broad range of analytical testing services, was no longer strategic for both shareholders. After evaluating various options, the companies agreed that selling the unit to another analytical testing provider would ensure business continuity.