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Merger forms huge company in Europe

17 February 2012

Two of Europe's leading groups of fruit and vegetable producer organisations, Finaf in France and Gruppo Mediterraneo in Italy, have decided to merge.
 

Fruitnet.com reports that the merger between to grower organizations in Europe is set to lead to the creation of what is being described as a European 'colossus', representing more than 15,000 growers producing just under 1.9m tonnes of product and generating around €1.4bn ( R14-bn) in marketed goods per annum.
 

The decision to form the new super-association involve , Finaf in France and Gruppo Mediterraneo in Italy.  The new company will retain the name Finaf (First International Fruit Association). The move was prompted by increasing difficulties and challenges faced by the agricultural sector in general and the fresh produce sector in particular. A further reason is the effect that the recent economic downturn has had on demand for, and sales of, fresh fruit and vegetables across Europe.
 

According to Finaf's representatives, merging the two associations offers the chance to consolidate supply and, in doing so, maintain a better level of competitiveness on global markets.
"The birth of the new APO Finaf allows us to achieve significant economies of scale and to improve management efficiency further, guaranteeing better profitability for member growers," commented existing Finaf president Roberto Cera and Grupo Mediterraneo president Enzo Treossi in a joint statement.
 

They added: "Thanks to this merger, it will in fact be possible to develop important technical and operational synergies and to define common strategies among the 22 member producer organisations, thereby maximising the value of our production."
 

The new Finaf association brings together producers supplying more than 100 different fruit and vegetable products, and represents 27 per cent of Italy's pear crop, 20 per cent of its kiwifruit, 14 per cent of its peach and nectarine output and 25 per cent of its processed tomato crop.
 

Within Emilia-Romagna, where it will be based, the new group will account for 45 per cent of the region's peach, nectarine and pear production.
 

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