Spanish company growing by 50% per year in the subtropical sector

Since the Malaga-based Sigfrido Fruit became a new player in the tropical fruit sector almost 5 years ago, the company has not stopped growing. Not only has it reached the top 10 of the industry in Spain in terms of revenue, but it has also managed to introduce a brand that is becoming increasingly reputable.

 

The company has just opened a new 2,800 square metre facility in the techno-food park of the Costa del Sol, which will allow it to continue growing steadily by 50% per year.

"The construction of the facilities was successfully completed in late January and we are now waiting for a concession for access to a megapower electricity connection to operate cold stores and sorting and packaging machinery," says the young entrepreneur Sigfrido Molina. "We have optimised the use of the space available, introducing cutting-edge technology to be able to meet the demands of our customers and suppliers, meeting the standards they deserve," he adds.

The company has invested 280,000 Euro in a versatile calibrating machine, both for mangoes and avocados, which will entail a much greater production capacity. The machine has a packaging line for between 50 and 70 people.

"We are on track at the beginning of the year, with considerable growth, and we aim for our business to grow by another 30-40% by the end of the year," he explains. Many customers are interested in growing with us. These new facilities are necessary if we want to pursue this objective, since the lack of space is a very limiting factor. It is becoming increasingly difficult to complete all the orders we receive. Based on the growth prospects that we have for the coming years, we have already reserved 4,500 square metres of industrial land next to the one we have just built, for its subsequent purchase, where a second packing plant will be built. We thus estimate that in 4 or 5 years, we will own ​​almost 10,000 square metres and have 6,000 square metres built."

Since its creation, Sigrido Fruits has been working with a brand-oriented approach in order to differentiate itself from other suppliers of tropical products. "Since I decided to set up this company, it was clear to me that I did not want to be just another firm. Our brand already has already earned a reputation among large distributors, wholesalers and restaurants at European level."

According to Sigfrido, during 2017, agreements have been reached with top-level avocado suppliers in Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile. "All of them are strong companies with a philosophy about how the fruit should be handled that is similar to ours. Our company has not been set up to handle avocados in just any way, but in a unique way, with special presentations and finishes, as well as specialised attention adapted to each of our 450 customers. It is difficult to find a company in this sector that never offers the same presentation twice from one year to the next, and that adapts them to all types of celebrations, be it Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, etc."

"We are ready to offer integral solutions with ready-to-eat mangoes and avocados throughout the year, without interruption, without taking into account the origin, analysing the ripening and food safety parameters in advance. All this is possible thanks to our main virtue, which is to have our own production in Spain, to which we always have access when needed."

Sigfrido hopes to soon work with papayas under his brand. "Spanish papayas have yet to meet our expectations; for now, it has not been possible to get a product with the same quality as that imported from Latin America. That is why we are trying to agree on a program to import papayas all year round from Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil."