Chiron

What Chiron does

Chiron (legal name: Entreprise Chiron, SIREN 339 765 141) is a privately-held, family-owned French meat processor founded in 1970, operating from a 48,000 tonnes/year production facility in Colombelles, Normandy. The company specializes in cryogenically frozen ground beef steaks, created as a product category by the Chiron family in 1970 and scaled through the Newbif brand launched in 1973. Chiron produces and distributes frozen ground beef products under three brands: Chiron (mass-market 100% pure beef striated steaks, seasoned ground beef, and IQF portioned beef for supermarkets), Newbif (premium butcher-style steaks using low-pressure forming technology), and Newbif Premium (breed-specific Angus, Charolaise, Limousine, and Normande variants).

The company's core technology comprises cryogenic flash freezing at -182°C, which halts bacterial growth and preserves nutritional quality, combined with a proprietary low-pressure forming technique that replicates the texture of butcher-made hamburger steaks. These capabilities are supported by IFS higher-level certification (held for 4 consecutive years), ISO 9001, and an extensive internal and COFRAC-accredited testing regime. Chiron operates as part of the Liffey Meats France group following its 2015 affiliation with Irish beef processor Liffey Meats and the 2018 integration of French slaughter/deboning firm E.V.A., giving the business vertical reach into cattle supply across roughly 12,000 farmers.

Chiron's business model is B2B wholesale distribution of frozen beef products through three channels: large French supermarket chains (GMS), independent butchers, and food service operators. The company serves French, Irish, European, and non-EU markets, with no direct-to-consumer e-commerce or digital platform visible in the source material. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed; pricing is not published and varies by channel and customer segment. Headcount sits in the 51-100 range, consistent with a mid-sized specialty food manufacturer operating a single major production facility with affiliated group-level slaughtering capacity.

Name

Chiron

Legal name

Entreprise Chiron

Website

https://chiron-viandes.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Chiron is a family-owned French meat processor that manufactures cryogenically frozen ground beef steaks under the Chiron, Newbif, and Newbif Premium brands, distributing to supermarkets, independent butchers, and food service operators in France, Europe, and non-EU markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Meat Products

NAICS

Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)

SIC

Meat Packing Plants (2011), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)

akta.pro primary industry

Ground Beef Production (Grinding, Blending, Forming) (AFANAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beef Processing & Packing (AFAKALAA), Formed & Restructured Meats (Nuggets, Patties, Logs, Portion-Control) (AFANAEAI), Frozen Meat, Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing (AFAKACAG)

Keywords

• Frozen ground beef steaks
• Meat processing products
• Butcher-style hamburger patties
• Cryogenic flash freezing
• Premium beef products

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombelles

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Frozen Hamburger Steak Products: Chiron generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of frozen hamburger steaks, ground beef products, and prepared meat products. Products are distributed through retail (supermarkets), food service, and butcher channels under Chiron, Newbif, and Newbif Premium brands.
2. B2B Wholesale Distribution: The company operates B2B wholesale distribution of frozen beef products to retailers, food service operators, and independent butchers across France and export markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Chiron manufactures and sells frozen ground beef steak products under the Chiron, Newbif, and Newbif Premium brands. The company processes beef using cryogenic flash freezing at -182°C and low-pressure forming technology to produce striated steaks, seasoned ground beef, IQF portionable beef, and premium butcher-style steaks from selected cattle breeds (Angus, Charolaise, Limousine, Normande). Production capacity reaches 48,000 tonnes per year, serving retailers, food service operators, and independent butchers across France and export markets.

Product overview

Chiron is a specialist in frozen ground beef steaks with two main brands: Chiron (mass-market, accessible products) and Newbif (premium sub-brand). The Chiron brand offers three product lines: 100% Pure Beef striated steaks (5%, 15%, 20% fat), seasoned ground beef (extra-tender 80%, onion/Provençal 69%, burgers 51%), and IQF portionable ground beef. The Newbif brand features butcher-style ground beef steaks using low-pressure forming technology, with a premium sub-line (Newbif Premium) featuring four elite French and international beef breeds (Angus, Charolaise, Limousine, Normande). All products are cryogenically frozen at -182°C.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Newbif: Premium brand of ground beef steaks 'façon bouchere' (butcher-style), featuring four prestigious cattle breeds: Angus, Charolaise, Limousine, and Normande. Originally created in 1973 and relaunched in 2014.
• Newbif Premium

Products and services

• Gamme Chiron 100% Pur Bœuf (Chiron 100% Pure Beef Striated Steaks) The original frozen ground beef steak brand featuring striated steaks available in 5%, 15%, or 20% fat content, distributed through supermarkets (GMS) for everyday consumers.
• Gamme Chiron Hachés Assaisonnés (Chiron Seasoned Ground Beef)
• Gamme Chiron Haché de Bœuf IQF (Chiron IQF Ground Beef)
• Gamme Newbif Bouchère (Newbif Butcher-Style Steaks) Premium butcher-style ground beef steaks using low-pressure forming technology and coarse chopping to preserve tenderness and juiciness, available in 100g to 180g portions.
• Gamme Newbif Classiques (Newbif Classic Steaks) Classic ground beef steaks in 80g, 100g, 120g, 150g sizes for commercial and social catering, available in VBF, EU and non-EU origins.
• Gamme Newbif Viande Hachée IQF (Newbif IQF Ground Beef) Individually Quick Frozen ground beef for portioning flexibility, suitable for all ground beef recipes in food service and retail.
• Newbif Premium - Angus Premium butcher-style ground beef steak from Angus cattle, known for its rustic character making it savory and tender with fine natural marbling and delicate grain.
• Newbif Premium - Charolaise Premium butcher-style ground beef steak from Charolaise cattle, offering very tender meat with fine marbling, low fat content and dietary benefits.
• Newbif Premium - Limousine Premium butcher-style ground beef steak from Limousine cattle, characterized by fine, lean, juicy meat with distinctive marbling for authentic flavor.
• Newbif Premium - Normande Premium butcher-style ground beef steak from Normande cattle, featuring marbled and melting texture with inimitable taste, particularly fine texture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 52,000 microbiological analyses and 100,000 physico-chemical controls annually ensure food safety and quality consistency
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• E.V.A. (Exploitation Viande Auvergne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018French beef slaughtering company (1st transformation) and deboning company (2nd transformation). E.V.A. joined Liffey Meats France group in 2018, providing Chiron with significant access to VBF (Very Good Fine) cattle supply. E.V.A. processes 1,000+ cattle from France origin for GMS and butchers, while Liffey Meats processes 3,500+ cattle from Ireland for retail and food service. Both companies share common values of excellence and strict hygiene and safety rules.
• Liffey MeatscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Irish family-owned beef meat company with nearly 12,000 cattle farmers in its network. Chiron affiliated with Liffey Meats in 2015 to strengthen its international position. Liffey Meats France group now includes Chiron and operates from both Ireland and France, providing slaughtering, deboning, cutting, and processing capabilities. The partnership enables Chiron to serve markets in France, Ireland, Europe, and non-EU countries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bigard: Bigard is France's largest meat processor and parent of Charal, operating integrated slaughter, cutting, and processing across beef, veal, and lamb. As the dominant French incumbent in meat processing, Bigard supplies retail, food service, and butcher channels and competes directly with Chiron across multiple product categories.
• Herta (Nestlé): Herta is a Nestlé-owned French processed-meat brand producing deli meats, hot dogs, and ready-meat products including ground beef and burger-style items. It is a broad-incumbent competitor across French refrigerated and frozen prepared-meat aisles where Chiron's Newbif products also sit.
• Cooperl: Cooperl is a major French meat cooperative with vertically integrated pork and beef operations producing fresh cuts, ground meats, and prepared products for retail and food service. While pork-focused, Cooperl competes with Chiron in French retail meat categories and food-service distribution channels.

Direct peers

• Kermené: Kermené is the meat-processing subsidiary of Les Mousquetaires (Intermarché, Netto) and produces frozen ground beef, burgers, and prepared meat products sold under Intermarché private labels and to external food-service customers. It directly overlaps with Chiron in frozen ground beef steak manufacturing and competes in French retail through MDD listings.
• Elivia: Elivia is a major French beef processor (formerly Socopa, now part of Bigard Group) producing fresh and frozen beef cuts, ground beef, and prepared beef products for retail, food service, and butcher customers. It competes with Chiron in frozen beef preparations and ground beef formatting for French retail and food-service channels.
• Charal: Charal is France's leading beef brand, owned by Bigard Group, and produces frozen ground beef steaks, burgers, and beef preparations under its own labels and retailer MDD. It competes head-to-head with Chiron in French GMS, food service, and butcher channels, with a directly overlapping product portfolio (steaks hachés, hachés assaisonnés, IQF ground beef).

Regional players

• Dawn Meats: Dawn Meats is an Irish family-owned beef processor with operations in Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe producing beef cuts and prepared meat products. Comparable to Chiron via its affiliation with Irish meat-industry peers (Liffey Meats) and similar vertical structure including primary processing and value-added beef manufacturing.
• ABP Food Group: ABP is one of Europe's largest beef processors, with operations across Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe producing beef cuts, ground beef, and prepared meat for retail and food service. As a peer of Liffey Meats (Chiron's parent), ABP operates in adjacent Irish/UK markets with comparable beef-processing capabilities relevant to Chiron's group context.
• Socopa (Bigard): Socopa was a major French beef and pork processor (now integrated into Bigard Group), historically producing frozen and fresh prepared meats for retail, food service, and butchers. It represents a regional/incumbent overlap with Chiron's frozen beef preparations and family-affiliated cooperative structure.

Emerging players

• Teyssier: Teyssier is a French charcuterie and processed-meat producer offering deli meats, ready meals, and ground beef preparations under own label and for retailer brands. Comparable to Chiron as a French regional meat processor competing for similar retail and food-service listings on a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/chiron_viandes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chiron-acvf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chiron