A renowned global player in the field of berries landed in Chile looking to break into the local market. It is the English company S & A, a family firm that was started some 40 years ago by its current controllers, the Davies family. Today, the fourth generation of the founders is in charge of this agricultural business and one of their main objectives is a global expansion.
The company, which produces and markets strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, asparagus, avocados, and blackberries, owns fields and operations in America, Europe, and Africa.
They had been to Chile before, as five years ago they worked together with Agricola Rinconada in Rihue. Currently, they operate independently with a field of 75 hectares in the vicinity of Los Angeles and they are evaluating expanding to Ovalle, with a similar surface area.
Charlie Davies, the director of operations for South America of S & A, stated, "we decided to bet on Chile for its good climate, international relations, and its institutional stability. It is more stable than other countries in the region and foreign companies have concrete facilities to generate business." The company entrusted its management in the country to the law firm Palma. Daniel Lyon, a partner of the firm, plays the role of legal representative of the agricultural company.
S & A operations will focus on its own production and on the purchase and marketing of blueberries. Its main export market is China, although the fruit will be packaged in Chile after the harvest process.
The goal of the English company is to produce more than two million kilos of blueberries within a period of five years. They expect production in Chile to be a relevant pillar for their global operations. Currently, S & A produces a total of 14 million kilos of berries, which includes blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Its fields in Chile allow the company to supply blueberries throughout the whole year, as this country produces them in the counter season and it complements their plantations in the northern hemisphere.
Source: economiaynegocios.cl