According to sources involved in these meetings, Kleppe will acquire some of the assets from Salentein Fruit in the Valle thereby seeking a major leap in scale and commercial production. Today the firm manages more than 2.5 million boxes of pears and apples. With the farms that the Dutch group would be acquiring business prospects would be standing in the short / medium term at around 3.5 million boxes.
Months ago Salentein Fruit had been showing significant issues with their balance sheets due to loss of competitiveness which had been affecting the region's fruit sector. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Kleppe is negotiating with Salentein Fruit who will leave this sector completely.
Corporate executives, among whom were the CEOs of both companies, had a tour on Monday with their group of technicians to look at the facilities in Guerrico. There the advanced negotiations were announced officially to the employees and they tried to convey reassurance about the future of jobs in the company.
The sources, who requested anonymity, said that only the plants owned by Salentein Fruit in Guerrico and some of the farms in production would, at this time, be entering negotiations with Kleppe. It is possible that another multinational firm is also involved in these conversations.
But the boost that Kleppe would get would not be limited only to the productive and commercial aspect. Strategically all the infrastructure that Salentein Fruit in Guerrico has would allow Kleppe improve their logistics, since it would focus most of their operations service (packing and coldchain) in one place with a very good access, since it is on Route 22 and much closer to one of the greatest centers of production located in the Valle Medio. Today Kleppe is concentrating its service tasks in Cipolletti and Fernández Oro, with most of the infrastructure located in the town.
With respect to Salentein Fruit, it is important to mention that it has assets in Mendoza, the Alto Valle and Valle Medio. Only in infrastructure, these regions account for three packing sheds with 37 precooled tunnels, 25 conventional cold storage chambers and 41 controlled atmosphere chambers. It also has large productive areas spread in Cuyo and VAlle de Rio Negro and Neuquén.
Source: Río Negro