Antwerp investment company Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH) is investing 22 million euros in the Indian family-owned nut, dried fruit, and seed producer VKC Nuts, De Tijd reports. With the capital injection, AvH is acquiring a 16.6 per cent stake. VKC Nuts, which will celebrate its centenary in 2026, has six production sites across India and recorded a turnover of 160 million euros last year. The company markets its range under the Nutraj brand through supermarkets, specialty shops, and e-commerce, offering almonds, cashews, dates, sultanas, and energy bars.
According to AvH, the Indian nut market is expanding rapidly due to the rise of the middle class and an increasing focus on health. Since 2020, sales in the sector have been growing by 22 per cent annually, while value-added products, such as nut mixes and bars, have grown at an average of 34 per cent annually. This is not AvH's first move in India: It has previously invested through funds from Venturi Partners and in Medikabazaar, a medical equipment supplier.
Source: De Tijd