The possible business combination of Univeg, Greenyard Foods and Peatinvest would create a market leader with a revenue of nearly 4 billion Euro. What the business combination would look like, is still being looked into. Hein Deprez: "At the moment we're looking into whether Univeg Group, Greenyard Foods and Peatinvest are able to work together. Since we're at the start of the process, various business combinations are possible. Combining these three companies would be unique in the sector."
Year-round fruit and vegetables
"Together, Greenyard Foods, Univeg and Peatinvest will become a unique global player in fruit and vegetables, being able to offer fresh, frozen as well as canned vegetables to its customers and the end consumer. This way we can offer the customers fruit and vegetables year-round, in a climate where a lot of attention is paid to health and convenience."
At the moment, the Board of Directors has given its consent to look into whether a business combination of the three companies is feasible. Now the respective values of the companies and the common strategy will have to be drawn up.
Greenyard on the stock market, two divisions
Hein Deprez is controlling shareholder in the three companies. Public company Greenyard Foods operates in the market of deep-frozen vegetables and preserves, while Univeg specializes in fresh fruit and vegetables. Peatinvest operates in the horticultural sector, as a supplier of substrates for the cultivation of fruit and vegetables.
The Greenyard Foods share is on the rise. "The idea is for Greenyard Foods to remain the stock market 'vehicle', with the two other companies as divisions. The Deprez holding is the controlling shareholder in the three companies now, and will remain so in the combination." Whether a specific business model is being considered, is not yet clear: "Those decisions will have to be detailed in the strategic plan. We already know that certain synergies will and won't be there."
The consumer is the interface
With other companies opting to separate various branches, Deprez actually goes the other way. He says the three companies have major overlaps, both in terms of supply chain and commercially. "The main interface and the idea behind the possible combination, however, is the consumer. They decide the way in which they buy and consume fruit and vegetables each day. A more holistic approach could stimulate consumption. It's useless to have fresh, frozen and canned compete with each other. There is no doubt that more consumption of fruit and veg is good for both man and nature."