focuses on profitable and sustainable growth
UNIVEG implemented its Global Strategic Plan
The significant improvement in the Group’s financial results enables to focus on the further development of this winning strategy:
- Volume growth in existing markets (Core markets and UNIVEG’s growth markets) and geographical expansion (exploring new continents such as Asia & the Middle East)
- Growth by focussing on solution oriented relations with customers and by reinforcing its unique sourcing concept “UNIVEG Fruit Partners”.
Global Strategic Plan: a proven winning strategy
At the end of 2011, the UNIVEG implemented a Global Strategic Plan to respond to the challenging economic conditions and to establish a financially healthy, solid base. The plan focused on certain strategic elements: growing the Fruit and Vegetable business in a profitable way, divesting non-core entities and adapting the Group’s organization accordingly.
At the end of 2012, UNIVEG confirms that the implementation of this plan is well on its way. Next to the reported sales growth and a foreseen positive bottom line for 2012, the Group is well advanced on its divestment program. 9 operations and a number of properties were successfully divested in the last year generating net proceeds in excess of €50 million. Management expects that proceeds on the full divestment program will exceed €100 million which will create more financial room for further growth. Next to that the Group continued to invest significantly in its operations (€25 million and €18 million in 2011 and 2012 respectively) and will continue to do so in 2013.
UNIVEG’s geographic growth potential looks very promising
Being a full service provider and all-round specialist who has the capabilities to manage the Fruit & Vegetables category of retailers, UNIVEG is the leader in Europe’s largest import and export markets. UNIVEG believes there is still significant growth potential in its core markets such as Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. France, UK and USA are also considered markets with important growth potential. In addition, changing global fruit and vegetables flows show new geographical opportunities, e.g. Asia and the Middle East.
UNIVEG works closely with growers of all sizes to optimise their potential by giving them a guaranteed route to market and by applying customer-focused principles throughout the supply chain. This strategy allows UNIVEG to improve its global network to more balanced sourcing through (partially) owned farms, partnerships, product expertise and excellent grower relationships. As a result UNIVEG can offer its customers the required year-round supply of the perfect produce basket.