Livingstone has advised Vivatis Holding AG on the sale of their shares in Senna, a leading Austrian producer of margarine, specialty fats, oils as well as sauces and dressings to Orkla ASA subsidiary Orkla Food Ingredients, a leading international supplier of food ingredients
Founded nearly 100 years ago, Senna is a leading supplier to the foodservice, artisan bakery and industrial segments across Europe. The company, headquartered in Vienna and having an own sales subsidiary in Italy, builds upon a strong brand recognition and trusted client relationships over decades, especially in Austria, Italy, Germany and the Balkan region. Senna generated a turnover of approximately €80 million in 2025 with 120 employees.
Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI), minority owned by Rhône Capital, combines strong industrial capabilities with an international platform serving customers in bakery, ice cream, and plant-based markets. With the transaction, OFI strengthens its position in the Central and South‑East European (CSE) region and establishes new market positions in both Austria and Italy.
“Senna is a highly regarded business with a proud history and an entrepreneurial team that fits OFI
well. 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”, says Manuela Banu, CEO of OFI CSE.
Klaus Sperrer, CFO of Vivatis Holding AG, says: “Senna has developed into a strong and respected player in its categories, thanks to the dedication and professionalism of its employees. In preparing for a new ownership structure, our clear ambition was to find the best possible solution for Senna. We are confident that OFI offers the right foundation to ensure the continued development of the Senna brand. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Livingstone team for their support throughout the entire M&A process, providing strong project management and deep transaction expertise and negotiation skills.”
Luca Pignato, Partner at Livingstone, added: “It was a great pleasure to support VIVATIS Holding AG on this important transaction and to identify Orkla Food Ingredients as a strong long-term partner that shares the same values. We would like to thank VIVATIS Holding AG for the close collaboration and the trust placed in us, leading to our second successful transaction together within the past 18 months.”
The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
