Lesieur, a subsidiary of the Avril Group, and the Marbour Group, today signed the agreement concerning a 69.28% stake taken by Lesieur in the capital of SPHB (Société de Production des Huiles de Bourbon) from the Marbour Group (holding 42.20% of the capital), the Isautier Establishments (15.95%) and the Cogedal Company (11.13%).
Through this operation, Lesieur intends to reinforce its position in the Réunion edible oils and dressings markets and develop the market presence of its products in the East African and the Indian Ocean regions.
The only bottler of edible oils in La Réunion, SPHB is currently the local leader in the edible oils market. It is also a major player in the sauces and dressings sector as well as in the ketchup market, holding 25% of these markets.
In 2014, SPHB achieved turnover worth €17 million, and currently employs 36 people. Its production site in Saint-Pierre groups a grain oil refining plant with a 25,000 tonne capacity (the only one in La Réunion), a packaging unit with a capacity of 10 million litres and a 500 tonne capacity manufacturing and packaging plant for sauces and dressings.
SPHB's activities focus on the refining of raw vegetable oils, the extrusion of PET (polyethylene terephtalate) bottles, the packaging of oils, the production of sauces and dressings and the marketing of its products throughout La Réunion Island.
This operation is being implemented in the context of a 15-year partnership between Lesieur and SPHB, which under license produces and sells in La Réunion all Lesieur branded edible oils (Lesieur Tournesol, Frial, Lesieur Maize, ISIO 4).
Romain Nouffert, Director General of Lesieur, explained: "This operation allows us to reinforce a long-standing partnership with a major player in the Réunion market, whose values we share. It also marks a new stage in the international development of Avril, through the opportunities it offers for new markets in the African and Indian Ocean regions."
Jean Bourdillon, Chairman of the Marbour Group went on: "These closer ties between Lesieur and SPHB have developed almost naturally. By combining the strengths of two very similar companies that have developed considerable and complementary expertise, they offer major potential for the future. We are proud to have been able to provide our support for this operation."
About Lesieur:
A company of the Avril Oilseeds division, Lesieur develops, packages and markets edible vegetable oils and condiment sauces in France for consumers, foodservice catering and the food-processing industries. http://www.lesieur.fr/
About Groupe Marbour:
The Marbour Group is a family-run group based in La Réunion. At the turn of the millennium, the Group entered the European market. In March 2015, Marbour completed the acquisition of the Canadian group MRRM Inc. thus emphasizing its growth strategy with a move into North America.
Marbour counts over 800 employees working in 15 sites localised in Europe, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and North America. 75% of the group’s activity is concentrated in the international rice market (dry rice and ready-to-eat rice), through the Siacom company and its subsidiaries. It is the third biggest rice miller in Europe.
Marbour’s activities also include Chemicals and Services.
In 2015, the Marbour Group should achieve turnover worth €300 million.
About the Avril Group:
Avril is the industrial and financial actor in the French vegetable oils and proteins sectors. Its mission is to create sustainable value in these sectors, thus contributing to better foods for humans and preservation of the planet.
Set up at the initiative of the farming world, the Group holds a portfolio of strong brands that are leaders in their markets, such as Lesieur, Puget, Matines, Sanders, Diester, Bunica, Taous, El Kef, etc.
It has been growing for more than 30 years in France and other countries according to a unique model under which profits are always reinvested in the sectors concerned.
Avril's industrial activities are organised in two Divisions that operate in synergy. The Oilseeds Division processes oilseed grain and uses the oil for edible oils, sauces and dressings, and renewable energies and chemistry. The Animal Products Division is involved in three areas: animal nutrition and production, biosecurity and nutritional specialities, and food products.
Financial activities are carried out by Sofiprotéol, the finance and development arm of the Avril Group. Focused mainly on developing the vegetable oils and proteins sectors, it also provides support for companies of all sizes, and backs the development of innovation through loans and minority stakeholdings. With its activities organised around six principal areas of intervention, Sofiprotéol thus supports a hundred or so companies which represent some 80,000 jobs, and has made investments worth €250 million during the past five years.
In 2014, the Avril Group achieved turnover worth €6.5 billion. As at 31 March 2015, it counted 7200 employees working in 22 different countries.
www.groupeavril.com | Twitter : @Avril
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