Driscoll’s board of directors has finalized the acquisition of the nonfarming assets of Alconeras and its 20% interest in Driscoll’s of Europe. The merger creates an organization to better serve Driscoll’s European customers and was successfully completed on January 1, 2011.
The move presents Driscoll’s with opportunities and resources to serve growers, customers and consumers throughout Europe. It will also allow European growers access to Driscoll’s patented plant varieties as well as technical, sales and marketing expertise. According to Theo Houwen, managing director of Driscoll’s of Europe, this acquisition strategically positions the company to become the leading supplier to the continent.
“Driscoll’s proprietary varieties have unique assets of appearance and flavor” said Houwen. “Our extensive breeding programs will ensure that both consumer delight and farmer economics will continue to improve.”
The merger will unite operations in Spain, Portugal and Morocco with the head office in Breda, The Netherlands. The new organization will have one European strategy with regard to the production and sale of Driscoll’s berry varieties. Production for sales in the UK will be integrated into this plan
with Berry Gardens Ltd. taking the responsibility for marketing Driscoll’s varieties in the U.K.
“The newly consolidated company will provide opportunities for longterm growth through improved grower economics, efficiency and effectiveness in its operations,” said Houwen. “It will also improve the balance between supply and demand.”
“With this unified organization and planned increase in production Driscoll’s of Europe will be able to continue to build the Driscoll’s brand in the European market and become a key player within the soft fruit market,” said Houwen.
“This merger completes the next logical step in the evolution of the growth plan for Driscoll’s of Europe,” said Soren Bjorn, Driscoll’s Sr. Vice President of International and Business Development. “It gives Driscoll’s more flexibility to serve our customers and ensure consistently high quality berries our customers come to expect.”
Driscoll’s is the world’s largest distributor of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. It is a fourthgeneration, family owned and operated company and uses only natural breeding methods to create plant varieties to produce ONLY THE FINEST BERRIES™. Their mission is to continually delight berry consumers. Driscoll’s conventional and organic strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are grown by independent farmers around the globe and are available year ‘round.
Source: Driscoll's
