Döhler Group, a German-based producer, marketer and provider of natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions for the global food and beverage industry, has reached an agreement with Zumos Catalano Aragoneses (ZUCASA) on the acquisition of the majority of shares in ZUCASA, a producer of juices, purees and sweet fruit concentrates, vegetables and plants located in the region of Fraga, about 190 km west of Barcelona. After the acquisition, the multinational, through its subsidiary Döhler Fraga, assumes immediate control of the company.
Zucasa started production in 2010 with three lines for processing fruits and vegetables: two of which are for purées and one for juices. The company has facilities of more than 24,000 square meters built on an estate of 168,000 square meters, with the capacity to store 32,000 cubic meters of natural juices, purées and concentrates. Currently, it employs around 50 people on permanent contracts, reaching 150 workers during high season. 60% of revenues are already coming from exports.
This acquisition represents a new stage in the continuity of operations after "the problems that have occurred in the past, leading to filing bankruptcy under article 5 bis of the insolvency law on May 5, 2018,” Döhler pointed out. “From now on it will have the full backing of the Döhler Group".
“ZUCASA’s extensive expertise and ability to provide fruit and vegetable juices, purees and concentrates for food and beverages, combined with the broad product portfolio and the comprehensive industry knowledge of the Döhler Group, will create unique synergy effects,” said Döhler in a press statement.
Headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, Döhler is active in over 130 countries and employs more than 6,000 people. It has more than 40 production sites, as well as sales offices and application centers on every continent.
“In the coming years, Döhler Group aims to set a benchmark within the sector and develop a plan of expansion and sustainable growth within its business model,” the company said. In October 2018, Döhler Group already bought Nutrafood, a fast-growing producer of plant-based ingredients for the food and beverage industry located in Basiliano, Italy (inside.beer, 23.10.2018).
