EANS-News: AGRANA acquires fruit processing plant in India

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Company Information/Acquisition

The sugar, starch and fruit group AGRANA has consolidated its
presence in Asia through the acquisition of a fruit processing plant
from the Indian fruit processor SAIKRUPA Fruit Processing Pvt. Ltd.
Following the establishment of AGRANA Fruit India Private Ltd. last
September and the acquisition of facility from SAIKRUPA, AGRANA has
now expanded its production activities in Asia to a third territory,
in addition to China and South Korea, namely the Indian subcontinent.
As the global leader in fruit preparations, AGRANA now maintains 26
production sites in 20 countries.

The fruit processing plant in question is located in western India in
the federal state of Maharashtra, around 50 km south of Pune. The
plant is therefore located in close proximity to strategically
important commodities such as mangos, strawberries, pomegranates and
guava. Key customers have also set up operations in this region. At
the same time, AGRANA Fruit India has opened an administration office
and a research and development laboratory in Pune.

"This first entry in India with the acquisition of this fruit
processing plant is a further important step as part of our expansion
into the fast-growing Asian market. We see excellent opportunities
for our products particularly in emerging markets such as India due
to rising purchasing power and changes in consumption behaviour
patterns. It is now time to leverage AGRANA's high quality standards
and the innovative strength of our Fruit segment to satisfy the needs
of our customers with a wide portfolio - ranging from standard fruit
preparations for yoghurts and ice creams to premium-segment fruit
solutions such as sauces, condiments, fillings and smoothie bases,"
explains the CEO of AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, Johann Marihart.

Fruit preparations at AGRANA Fruit preparations contain top quality
fruit which is prepared either as a liquid or in pieces in order for
these to be used in dairy products or in the ice cream and bakery
products industries. These products are individually designed and
produced by AGRANA on the basis of close development-related
collaborations with customers. In addition to supplying the food
processing industry, AGRANA also supplies its fruit preparations to
fast-food companies and food service providers.

About AGRANA AGRANA adds value to agricultural commodities to produce
top quality foodstuffs and numerous industrial upstream products.
Around 8,600 personnel working at over 50 production facilities
worldwide generate consolidated revenues of around EUR 2.5 billion.
The Company was founded in 1988 and is today the leading sugar
company in Central and Eastern Europe as well as being a major
European producer of custom starch products and bioethanol. AGRANA is
also the global leader in fruit preparations and the largest
manufacturer of fruit juice concentrates in Europe.

This press release is available in German and English at
www.agrana.com.

Further inquiry note:
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG

Mag.(FH) Markus Simak
Pressesprecher
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: markus.simak@agrana.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
F.-W.-Raiffeisen-Platz 1
A-1020 Wien
phone: +43-1-21137-0
FAX: +43-1-21137-12926
mail: info.ab@agrana.com
WWW: www.agrana.com
sector: Food
ISIN: AT0000603709
indexes: WBI, ATX Prime
stockmarkets: Präsenzhandel: Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, official market: Wien
language: English

Original-Content von: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell