Collagen Casings (Beef Hide Collagen)

World's #1 collagen casing manufacturer (~35% global market share). Acquired by SARIA Bio-Industries AG & Co. KG (German/Dutch animal by-products rendering company) for £540M in April 2023 — delisted from London Stock Exchange. SARIA processes animal by-products (blood, bone, hide, carcass) from European slaughterhouses; Devro turns bovine corium (inner hide layer) into edible collagen casings. The company that collects and processes animal carcasses also makes the casings for the sausages. Devro operates 7 manufacturing sites: Moodiesburn (Scotland), Jilemnice (Czech Republic), Slavkov (Czech Republic), USA, Australia, China, Netherlands.

German animal by-products rendering and organic recycling company; parent of Devro since April 2023. SARIA processes animal by-products from European slaughterhouses — blood, bone, hide, feathers, carcasses — into rendered products (tallow, animal feed, biofuels, pet food, gelatin). SARIA's acquisition of Devro is strategically vertical: SARIA collects bovine hides and collagen-rich by-products from European slaughterhouses, and Devro converts that bovine corium into edible collagen casings. Owned by the Rethmann Group (German private family conglomerate; also owns Remondis, one of Europe's largest waste management companies).

World's largest total casing manufacturer (collagen + cellulose + fibrous + plastic casings); ~35% of global collagen casing market. 24 production plants in 22 countries: Spain (San Adrián, Cáseda), Czech Republic, Germany, Brazil, USA, Mexico, Serbia, China, Australia, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Uruguay. Revenue ~€1.2B/year. Listed on Bolsa de Madrid. In 2024 acquired 60% of Brazilian collagen producers Brasfibra and Master Couros. Also innovating in biodegradable casings and plant-based casings. Viscofan is simultaneously the world's largest sausage casing company AND a significant producer of cellulose and fibrous casings for diverse processed meat applications.

Dominant Chinese collagen casing manufacturer; 80% of China's domestic collagen casing market. Listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Founded 1989 in Guangxi. Also manufactures pharmaceutical products, skin care products, health care products for pregnant women and toddlers, and bioactive collagen products from the same bovine collagen source as its sausage casings. The company that makes 80% of China's sausage casings also makes Chinese pharmaceutical-grade collagen and maternal health products — all from the same Guangxi slaughterhouse-sourced bovine corium.

4th largest US beef packer; ~10-12% of US beef processing. Major plants at Liberal, KS (one of the largest US beef plants) and Dodge City, KS. Owned by Marfrig Global Foods (Brazil) — the world's 4th largest beef company. Two of the US's Big 4 beef packers (JBS, National Beef) are owned by Brazilian companies; together with Cargill (US, private), they process ~85% of US beef. National Beef also owns Kansas City Steak Company (premium retail) and Bravada International (tallow/technical products).