The Theo Müller Group is acquiring Berief, a manufacturer of milk substitutes and tofu products based in Beckum, Westphalia. Berief (turnover €113 million in 2025, 350 employees) is reportedly set to operate independently within UTM. The company’s owners, Marcus and Astrid Berief, initiated an M&A process last November and did not rule out a complete sale. The competition authorities have yet to approve the deal.
Berief generates 85% of its turnover from private labels. In the plant-based drinks sector, Berief ranks third in the German market for branded products. The company was unable to expand abroad under its own steam.
With Berief, however, Müller is also entering a category in which the group has had virtually no presence to date. With its Müllerdrink Vegan product, the manufacturer generated just under €700,000 in retail sales in 2025, making it something of a footnote. Müller has also not produced any organic products to date.