Fruits de Ponent becomes 69th member of Anecoop

Catalan stonefruit cooperative Fruits de Ponent has become the newest member of the Anecoop group.

The move will significantly strengthen Anecoop’s presence in north eastern Spain, where it opened its first commercial office in the Ebro Valley in 2015, and allow it to boost its stonefruit and top fruit offering.

Fruits de Ponent’s location will also serve as a platform from which Anecoop can service its French divisions in Perpignan.

Announcing the deal at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Fruits de Ponent’s CEO Sebastián Escarp said the alliance would assure the continuing growth of both companies through the sharing of useful synergies.

Anecoop’s CEO Alejandro Monzón said the incorporation of Fruits de Ponent followed several years of working in close partnership.

“It allows us to reinforce our solidity, with a powerful structure that we have managed to establish together.

“Today it is an honour that Fruits de Ponent and Anecoop are part of the same project. Together we add the strength and integration of our offer, with the aim of reaching a basic dimension to be more competitive.”

The incorporation of Fruits de Ponent brings Anecoop’s membership to 69 cooperatives.

In the last two years, six new members have joined the Anecoop Group: two in Murcia (Toñifruit and Frutas Condiso), two in Andalusia (FOASAT and Tomasol), Huercasa (Segovia) and now Fruits de Ponent.

Fruits de Ponent produces 62,000 tonnes of fruit a year, of which 80 per cent is stonefruit and 20 per cent top fruit. It also produces other products such as almonds and cereals, as well as producing and marketing extra virgin olive oil and having other business units such as an Agroshop and Ramell fuel service stations. Currently, Fruits de Ponent, exports fruit to more than 50 countries on four continents.