Agrana Fruit acquires stake in Algerian fruit preparations producer

31 Jul 2018 --- Fruit solution provider Agrana Fruit (part of the Agrana Group), has extended its presence in the African market by acquiring 49 percent of the shares in Elafruits SPA (Elafruits), formerly known as Frulact Algérie, an Algerian producer of fruit preparations.

Located in Akbou, Algeria, around 200km east of Algiers, Elafruits is a subsidiary of Groupe Batouche Eurl. The company has a workforce of around 100 employees generated revenues of approximately €7 million (US$8.198 million) in its 2017 financial year. Agrana Fruit now maintains 29 production sites in 21 countries. 

Besides fruit preparations for dairy and ice creams, Elafruits SPA also produces fruit purées and bases for the beverage industry.

Algeria is strategically an essential market for Agrana Fruit with the highest per capita consumption of fruit preparations for yogurts in the region, according to the company. 

Earlier this month, on July 12th, 2018, the official inauguration took place on the premises of Elafruits SPA with a warm welcome by all employees, an introduction of Agrana Fruit to the group strategy and ambitions for the regional markets. 

“This acquisition is another move to strengthen our leading global position in fruit solutions. The existing product portfolio and the option of expanding our production capacity close to major customers in Algeria will accelerate the growth of Agrana Fruit in North Africa,” explains Agrana Fruit CEO Johannes Kleppers.

Last year, during an interview with FoodIngredientsFirst, Kleppers said: “We are playing a two-fold strategy in the area of fruit and dairy solutions and looking at expanding geographically into emerging markets that are interesting to us. Here we can see a growing trend towards value-added food products. There is also a growing demand for our products due to rising purchasing power and changes in consumer behavior patterns.”

You can read the full interview with Kleppers here. 

Agrana Fruit is established as a world market leader for fruit solutions for the dairy industry. The company does, however, have a much broader product portfolio and is also specialized in a wide range of diverse and innovative solutions for other categories and channels such as the ice cream, bakery and foodservice industries. Alongside a range of fruit solutions, Agrana Fruit is also a specialist in brown flavor preparations, preparations with inclusion ingredients, cereals and savory preparations.