Aviko buys eurofreez, Seru & Annoot, strengthens potato industry position.

There's a whole lot of shaking going on in the European potato industry these days, and now Steenderen, Holland-headquartered Aviko has shaken things up more with an agreement to take over both potato processor Eurofreez and potato trader Seru & Annoot.

The transaction represents a significant increase in Aviko's sale of potato specialities, and is said to be a perfect match for the company's strategy. In the years ahead Aviko will seek to considerably strengthen its position in the growing market for value-added potato specialities.

Eurofreez produces a range of high quality spud specialities at its site in Proven (West Handers), Belgium, including a wide assortment of frozen mashed potatoes and portioned gratins that are exported to 65 countries. The company considerably increased its production capacity in 2007.

Seru & Annoot is a long-standing potato trader that buys tubers, many of which are processed by Eurofreez, from more than 300 farmers in West Flanders and northern France.

The acquisition in Belgium will further improve the spread of Aviko's potato sourcing operations and its European production network. Aviko currently has 12 potato processing facilities in Europe and is constructing a new factory in China. The Aviko group processes 1.7 million tons of potatoes into a varied range of products each year.

Eurofreez and Seru & Annoot have turnover of approximately 65 million euros and a joint workforce of approximately 170 people. The acquisition as such, the company said, will have no adverse consequences for employment. Dirk de Pandelaere will remain in his position as managing director of Eurofreez.