BEN'S

What BEN'S does

Bens NV is a Belgian pork meat processing and export company headquartered in Oevel-Westerlo, Belgium, founded in 1961 and operating under company number BE 0404.141.788. The company runs three integrated Belgian facilities (Oevel-Westerlo HQ, Heist-op-den-Berg, Lokeren) with a stated processing capacity of 400 tons per shift and a total production footprint of 68,393 m², including a fully automated cutting plant commissioned in 1999 and a 33-meter automated crate washing line. Core technology is pork meat processing and cold chain operations (cutting, deboning, frozen storage) supported by an integrated supply chain management system providing full traceability from primary raw materials to end product.

The product portfolio spans whole pork carcasses (pork half without head), foreapart cuts (neck, picnic, keel), middle cuts (belly, tenderloin, back fat, ribs), ham cuts in multiple configurations, and full offal/variety meats. Bens sells B2B via direct export and direct sales relationships to butchers, wholesalers, retailers, and food processing industries in Belgium, Europe, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and South Korea, with quote-based pricing and 14-day payment terms. The company holds HACCP, BRC, IFS, Certus, and FEBEV+ certifications and is externally audited by FASFC and Bureau Veritas.

The business model is commodity B2B sales of fresh and frozen pork products and by-products, organized through direct contracts and quotations rather than digital self-serve channels. Bens Retail, a wholly-owned subsidiary launched in 2009, addresses retail-channel demand, while the core company remains focused on wholesale, processing, and export customers. The company is privately held, with no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership identified; the Vanden Avenne family-owned agricultural group has been a strategic partner since 1989.

Name

BEN'S

Legal name

Bens NV

Website

https://bens.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bens NV is a Belgian pork meat processor and exporter, founded 1961, operating three integrated Belgian facilities with 400 tons per shift capacity and selling fresh and frozen pork cuts, by-products, and offal to butchers, wholesalers, retailers, and food processors in Belgium, Europe, and overseas markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pork Meat Processing

NAICS

Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering (311611), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (42447)

SIC

Meat Packing Plants (2011)

akta.pro primary industry

Pork Processing & Packing (AFAKALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pork Fabrication & Primals Cutting (Carcass Breakdown) (AFANABAB), Pork Export Processing & Compliance (USDA/FSIS, EU/China Specs) (AFANABAI), Pork Wholesale (Primal/Subprimal, Boxed Pork) (AFAIADAB), By-Product & Offal Processing (Edibles: Variety Meats) (AFANABAJ)

Keywords

• Pork meat processing
• Pork wholesale supply
• Fresh frozen pork
• Meat export services
• Cold chain pork

Headquarters

HQ city

Oevel-Westerlo

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pork Meat and By-products Sales: Sale of fresh and frozen pork products including cuts, by-products (organ meat, fat, skin, bones), and processed meat products to B2B customers including butchers, wholesalers, retailers, and food processors. Revenue is generated through product sales with quotations and direct contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bens NV slaughters, cuts, and processes pork meat, supplying fresh and frozen pork cuts and by-products (including heads, organs, fat, skin, and bones) to B2B customers such as butchers, wholesalers, retailers, and food processors. Operating from an integrated Belgian production chain spanning slaughtering, cutting, deboning, and frozen storage, the company exports to Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, and numerous European countries. Processing capacity reaches 400 tons per shift, with full traceability from farm to end product and quality assured through Certus, FEBEV+, BRC, IFS, and HACCP certifications.

Product overview

Bens is a Belgian pork meat processing and export company offering a comprehensive range of fresh and frozen pork products. The product portfolio includes whole pork carcasses (pork half without head), foreapart cuts (neck, picnic/shoulder, keel), middle cuts (tenderloin, belly, ribs, back fat), ham cuts, and variety meats/offal. Bens operates an integrated supply chain with frozen storage, cutting, deboning, and by-product processing capabilities, supplying butchers, wholesalers, retailers, and food processors globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pork Half without Head

Quantifiable outcome

• Processing capacity of 400 tons per shift
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CertuscoreTechnology or IntegrationCertus is a Belgian meat quality and traceability certification label. Bens is certified through Certus, enabling monitoring of primary raw materials to end products with coordinated data exchange and transparent administration for complete supply chain traceability.
• BRCcoreTechnology or IntegrationBRC (Brand Reputation through Compliance) is a global food safety standard. Bens holds BRC certification demonstrating compliance with international food safety and quality standards.
• FAVVcoreTechnology or IntegrationFAVV (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain) is the Belgian government agency responsible for food safety. Bens undergoes external audits conducted by FAVV for regulatory compliance.
• FEBEV+coreTechnology or IntegrationFEBEV+ is the Belgian meat industry association providing quality certification. Bens holds FEBEV+ certification demonstrating compliance with Belgian meat industry quality and safety standards.
• Vanden AvennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned agricultural group from Ooigem. Partnership established in 1989 when the company began operating under the name Bens NV. Represents a strategic alliance in the agricultural supply chain.
• Bureau VeritascoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational testing, inspection, and certification company. Conducts external audits of Bens operations for food safety and quality compliance verification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Westfleisch: German farmer-owned meat processor and exporter of pork, beef and sausage products. Comparable to Bens as a mid-sized European pork processor with cooperative upstream supply, integrated cutting operations, and export focus to Asian and European customers.
• Vion Food Group: Largest pork and beef processor in the Netherlands with extensive European processing capacity and global export footprint. Directly comparable to Bens as a similarly vertically integrated pork processor serving B2B retail, wholesale and foodservice customers across Europe and Asia.
• Belgian Pork Group: Belgian pork production group spanning slaughter, cutting and deboning operations. The closest geographic and operational peer to Bens, sharing the same Belgian pork supply base, Certus-style traceability framework, and B2B customer mix of butchers, wholesalers and retailers.
• Tönnies: Major German pork and beef processor with integrated slaughtering, cutting and deboning operations serving European retail and global export markets. Closely comparable to Bens in operating model, B2B customer mix, and emphasis on certified, traceable pork supply.
• Cooperl Arcadia: French pork cooperative with vertically integrated operations from breeding through slaughter, cutting and processed pork products. Comparable to Bens in vertical integration, B2B go-to-market, and emphasis on certified, traceable European pork for retail and export.

Broad incumbents

• Smithfield Foods: World's largest pork processor and hog producer, now under WH Group. Comparable to Bens as a vertically integrated pork processor with global export reach, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader category portfolio.
• Danish Crown: Denmark-headquartered farmer-owned cooperative and one of the world's largest pork exporters. Comparable to Bens as a European pork processor with global export reach, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• CIF (Groupe Bigard): French pork and beef processor operating under the Bigard, Charal and Socopa brands with national and export distribution. Comparable to Bens as a European pork processor serving retail and foodservice, though with broader branded exposure and larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ben's

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 BEN'S