The incorporation of the Almeria-based cooperative San Isidro Labrador S.C.A., Copisi, to the UNICA Group, approved on July 4, will allow the group to reach 500 million kilos next season. In this way, UNICA consolidates its position as the most important agro-food company in Almeria and the largest horticultural exporter in Spain, with an expected turnover of 550 million Euro in the next campaign.
For UNICA, this campaign will close with an estimated 34% growth, and next year, there will be another 30% increase, with a volume totaling 500 million kilos. This is to thank to the latest incorporations, namely those of Coopaman, the second degree cooperative specialized in garlic and leader in the production of purple garlic in Europe, with a marketed volume totaling 20 million kilos; Sunaran, devoted to the production and marketing of citrus fruits in the Guadalquivir Valley, with a production amounting to 50 million kilos, and this latest one of Copisi, which will become effective as of September.
Copisi, based in El Ejido, currently has 160 members, 300 hectares of crops and more than 700 workers in the areas of production, processing, marketing and management. Its production volume exceeds 30 million kilos and its most representative products are bell peppers, Almeria cucumbers and, to a lesser extent, aubergine or watermelon, among others.
For Copisi, the merger with UNICA entails a qualitative leap that will allow it to reach new clients with a winning market strategy. Rosendo Pozo, president of Copisi, said that "just like we joined in cooperatives fifty years ago, now we are becoming part of a second-tier cooperative. We have fewer intermediaries, we produce a greater volume and customers count on us. Moreover, by collaborating with UNICA, we have more chances to innovate with new varieties, organic products and everything that the market demands," he said.
UNICA is present in Almería, Granada, Málaga, Murcia, Cádiz, Córdoba and Cuenca through Agrolevante, Cabasc, Camposol, Casur and Parquenat (merged into the new Natursur), Coopaman, Cohorsan, Cota 120, Europeos, Granagenil, El Grupo, Ferva, Parafruts, Virgen del Rocío and Sunaran. The fresh production of the AN Group cooperatives is also sold through Unica Fresh.
For more information:
UNICA GROUP SCA.
Parque Científico-Tecnológico de Almería (PITA)
Avda. de la Innovación, nº 15, Edificio PITÁGORAS, 2ª planta, áreas C-D
Autovía del Mediterráneo A-7, salida 460, CP04131, Almería, Spain.
prensa@unicagroup.es
http://unicagroup.es/