Austrian Maresi Acquires 70 Percent of Croatian Salvia

Austrian company Maresi, based in Vienna and part of the Austrian food group Vivatis, is further expanding its international business by acquiring 70 percent stake in the Croatian company Salvia.

Maresi, as stated in a joint press release, has extensive experience in the distribution of food and non-food brands in Austria and the CEE region. The companies have agreed not to disclose the terms of the purchase.

The statement notes that the family-owned company Salvia, founded in 1991, fits into Maresi’s growth strategy and portfolio in Central and Eastern Europe. Salvia is the exclusive distributor for over 40 renowned international food and beverage brands and achieved a revenue of €23.1 million in 2024, employing 94 people.

– By joining forces with Maresi, we ensure long-term stability and create new opportunities for growth. Our management team will remain in charge, and our commitment to employees, customers, and partners remains unchanged. This step strengthens our foundations and ensures sustainable development for the future, said Salvia’s director Mirko Bašić.

The CEO of Vivatis Holding Gerald Hackl emphasized that Maresi and Salvia share long-standing expertise in the distribution of well-known food brands.

– Therefore, we are particularly pleased with the trust placed in us. The majority acquisition in Croatia is another important step in implementing our growth strategy, said Hackl.

Maresi’s director Sabine Schwaiger believes that entering the Croatian market opens additional potential for the existing company’s portfolio of brands.

– At the same time, Salvia’s existing collaborations can be successfully expanded to other countries. Furthermore, the expanded geographical presence in the CEE region strengthens the position of the Maresi Group for future acquisitions of partner brands, concluded Schwaiger.

Maresi Austria GmbH is one of the leading Austrian companies for brands. Together with its subsidiaries in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania, it forms the international Maresi Group.