Rousselot and PB Leiner to combine collagen and gelatin know-how in new Nextida company

Darling Ingredients, owner of Rousselot and its Nextida collagen peptide platform, reveals it is partnering with the Belgium-based Tessenderlo Group’s PB Leiner division to form a joint venture company called Nextida. The new business will combine the collagen and gelatin businesses into one global company focused on health, wellness, and nutrition.

The move, formalized through a non-binding term sheet, will see Darling Ingredients take an 85% majority stake in Nextida, while Tessenderlo Group retains 15%.

Rousselot introduced its first collagen peptide from its Nextida platform, Nextida.GC, in 2024. The new entity will create a company with US$1.5 billion in projected annual revenue and a production capacity of 200,000 metric tons.

The venture is expected to operate 23 facilities across four continents, spanning South America, North America, Europe, and Asia.

“By working with Tessenderlo Group over the last several months, we have developed an opportunity that will allow us to establish a new company that provides a strong platform for accelerated product development and growth,” explains Randall Stuewe, chairman and CEO of Darling Ingredients.

“Collagen has represented the fastest-growing area of Darling Ingredients’ food segment business over the past several years, and with the addition of PB Leiner’s people, assets, and products, we are well-positioned to increase scale and focus in this rapidly growing segment.”

Capitalizing on collagen demands

The companies emphasize that no cash or initial capital investment is required from either party under the agreement, making this a uniquely cost-efficient alignment designed to accelerate growth in the booming global collagen market.

Collagen products are experiencing rapid growth globally, driven by demand across multiple sectors — from sports and active lifestyle supplements to beauty-from-within and medical nutrition. Innova Market Insights’ data suggests that between April 2019 and March 2024, nutrition products containing collagen ingredients grew at an average annual rate of 10%, with Europe leading in collagen supplement and sports nutrition product launches.

Nextida aims to capture a significant share of this demand by leveraging the combined R&D, production, and commercial capabilities of Rousselot and PB Leiner.

“With this combination, we will have the best new ownership possible,” highlights Luc Tack, CEO of Tessenderlo Group. “We will benefit from each other by sharing technology expertise and providing a complementary offering for our global customer base.”

“This includes many in-demand products, such as gelatin and collagen peptides.”

Eyes on 2026 launch

By aligning operations, Nextida is expected to deliver significant synergies through optimized logistics, increased operational efficiencies, and streamlined commercialization — all without the need for costly infrastructure expansion.

The companies point out that the creation of Nextida is subject to regulatory approvals and the execution of final agreements. If approved, the joint venture is expected to close in 2026.

Darling Ingredients will continue to lead operations and hold the controlling interest, positioning the partnership as a core strategic expansion of its health and nutrition portfolio. Analysts expect the move to enhance shareholder value and support long-term earnings growth.

Nutrition Insight will continue to monitor this story as it unfolds.