There's a whole lot of shaking going on in the European potato
industry these days, and now Steenderen, Holland-headquartered Aviko has
shaken things up more with an agreement to take over both potato
processor Eurofreez and potato trader Seru & Annoot.
The transaction represents a significant increase in Aviko's
sale of potato specialities, and is said to be a perfect match for the
company's strategy. In the years ahead Aviko will seek to
considerably strengthen its position in the growing market for
value-added potato specialities.
Eurofreez produces a range of high quality spud specialities at its
site in Proven (West Handers), Belgium, including a wide assortment of
frozen mashed potatoes and portioned gratins that are exported to 65
countries. The company considerably increased its production capacity in
2007.
Seru & Annoot is a long-standing potato trader that buys
tubers, many of which are processed by Eurofreez, from more than 300
farmers in West Flanders and northern France.
The acquisition in Belgium will further improve the spread of
Aviko's potato sourcing operations and its European production
network. Aviko currently has 12 potato processing facilities in Europe
and is constructing a new factory in China. The Aviko group processes
1.7 million tons of potatoes into a varied range of products each year.
Eurofreez and Seru & Annoot have turnover of approximately 65
million euros and a joint workforce of approximately 170 people. The
acquisition as such, the company said, will have no adverse consequences
for employment. Dirk de Pandelaere will remain in his position as
managing director of Eurofreez.
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