Driscoll’s Acquires Non-Farming Operations Of Alconeras

Driscoll’s of Europe is acquiring the non-farming operations of Alconeras, a Spanish-based cultivation and fruit production company owned by the Garrido family. The acquisition creates a unified European-wide organization that provides a single entity to serve Driscoll's customers.

Soren Bjorn, Driscoll’s Sr. Vice President of International and Business Development states, “This acquisition is the next logical step in the evolution of the growth plan for Driscoll’s of Europe. It will give Driscoll’s more flexibility to serve our customers and ensure the consistently high quality Driscoll’s customers expect day in and day out.”

Driscoll’s of Europe leads the commercialization of the Driscoll's brand in Europe and the UK including the activities of Berryport in Portugal, a subsidiary Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates, USA. The head office of Driscoll’s of Europe is in Breda, Netherlands. Theo Houwen, will continue to act as the Managing Director of Driscoll’s of Europe.

Alconeras has been a valued partner with Driscoll’s in Spain and Morocco and through earlier joint ventures. The acquisition includes the operations of Alconeras Spain, Alconeras Nursery in Spain, Alconeras Morocco, and the Alconeras equity interest in Driscoll’s of Europe.

The move gives Driscoll’s a facilities, management efficiencies, and other resources to best serve producers in Spain and Morocco as well as customers throughout Europe. This entity will enable all European growers to sell their products, access Driscoll’s genetics, and receive technical advice from a
single organization.

Theo Houwen, Managing Director, Driscoll's of Europe emphasized, “This greater sharing of knowledge and efficient utilization of resources will further strengthen an already outstanding organization. We look forward to feedback from our growers and customers as we fine tune our operations.”
Alconeras, a Spanish-based cultivation and fruit production company owned by the Garrido family, has nursery operations and cooling facilities in Spain and produces strawberries in Spain and Morocco.

The Garrido family has been a trusted partner with Driscoll’s in Spain and Morocco for over a dozen years, and they also became Driscoll's joint venture partner in Berry Alliance and, thereafter, in Berry Gardens.

Mr. Bjorn added, “We appreciate the partnership we have had with the Garrido family over the years and look forward to working with their growers moving forward. This acquisition will lead to improved grower economics and better balance between supply and demand. That is central to Driscoll’s mission – to continually delight berry consumers through alignment with our customers and berry growers.”

A fourth generation, family owned and operated fresh berry company, Driscoll’s uses natural breeding methods to create plant varieties that produce ONLY THE FINEST BERRIES®. Their mission is to Continually Delight Berry Consumers. Driscoll’s conventional and organic strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are grown by independent farmers around the globe, and are available year ‘round.

Source: Driscoll's