Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Senna, a premier Austrian manufacturer of margarine, specialty fats, and sauces.
The deal means Orkla establishes a physical foothold in the Austrian and Italian markets for the first time.
By acquiring 100% of Senna’s operational business from Vivatis Holding, Orkla is not just buying a production facility; it is acquiring nearly a century of expertise in the foodservice and artisan bakery segments.
The acquisition is a key component of Orkla’s 2026 growth strategy, which prioritises geographical expansion and category depth. Senna, headquartered in Vienna, is a well-established player that generated approximately €80 million in revenues in 2025.
“Senna is a highly regarded business with an entrepreneurial team that fits OFI well,” said Manuela Banu, CEO of OFI CSE. “Austria and Italy represent new markets for OFI, where we aim to grow profitably by introducing a broader set of categories and by driving operational efficiency.”
For Orkla, this acquisition serves as a “bridgehead” into the Central and South-East European (CSE) region. The business impact can be broken down into three primary pillars:
Infrastructure and capability: Senna operates the only margarine production facility in Vienna. This local manufacturing capability reduces logistics costs for the region and provides a hub for Orkla to produce its own proprietary fat and oil blends for the local marketMarket access: through the acquisition of 75% of Senna, Orkla gains immediate access to the highly competitive Italian bakery and foodservice sectors, a key growth target for the group’s “Grow and Build” strategyCategory synergy: Senna’s deep roots in the artisan bakery and industrial segments complement Orkla’s existing bakery ingredients portfolio. Orkla intends to use Senna’s established distribution networks to cross-sell its broader product range, including yeast, marzipan, and bread improvers.
The transition comes after a period of stability under Vivatis Holding. Klaus Sperrer, CFO of Vivatis, noted that the ambition was to find the “best possible solution” for Senna’s continued development, expressing confidence that Orkla’s multi-local model offers the necessary foundation for the brand to thrive.
Christof Kessler, CEO of Senna, shared this optimism: “We are pleased to join OFI, whose deep category knowledge provides an excellent platform for the next phase of Senna’s development. I look forward to continuing the journey as part of the OFI family.”
Dining and Cooking