AGRANA Starts Operations at Brazil Plant

07/05/07 AGRANA, the international group specialized in sugar, starch and fruit, has started operations at its new fruit preparations plant in Cabreuva, Sao Paulo, Brazil. This plant will produce nearly 4,000 tons of fruit preparations in 2007|08 and roughly 8,000 tons per year beginning in 2008|09, and will supply the rapidly growing market for fruit yoghurt in Brazil. Delivery contracts have already been signed with the local branches of multinational food companies. This state-of-the-art facility was constructed in only seven months at a cost of € 7 million. AGRANA built the plant on property owned by RICAELI, a Brazilian producer of frozen fruits and frozen purees for retail and industrial customers. In exchange, RICAELI will receive a stake of up to 25% in the AGRANA plant.

“The opening of Cabreuva signifies our entry into a key strategic market. High population growth, a rising standard of living and increasing nutrition-consciousness as well as strong demand for fruit preparations by the Brazilian and international dairy industries make Brazil a particularly important future market for AGRANA“, explained AGRANA CEO Johann Marihart at yesterday’s opening ceremony. The Cabreuva plant was designed to meet the rising demand for fruit preparations that is linked with the rapidly growing per capita consumption of fruit yoghurts in South America. This plant will provide supplies primarily for AGRANA’s multinational customers in Brazil, who place the highest quality demands on fruit preparations. “The cooperation with our local partner RICAELI allowed us to complete the construction of the new plant in record time. Moreover, we will be able to utilize a wide range of synergy effects, especially in the procurement of raw materials, and also profit from the available infrastructure“, added Johann Marihart.

AGRANA Fruit is the world market leader in fruit preparations for the dairy industry. The AGRANA Fruit Segment with its fruit preparation and fruit juice concentrate subdivisions currently operates 37 production facilities in 23 countries on five continents. After Argentina and Mexico, Cabreuva represents the third production facility in Latin America. Forecasts call for the Fruit Segment to generate roughly 50% of total revenues for the AGRANA Group in 2007|08.