Almeria is becoming increasingly important for Anecoop, the leading Spanish fruit and vegetables trader. The five companies from Almeria associated to this second-level cooperative are Camposol, Albentillas, Agroiris, Coprohnijar and Hortamar, which contribute around 150 million Euro, almost 25% of the company's total turnover (594 million).
Anecoop Director in Almeria, José Bono, explains that "Almeria's greenhouse production is at the heart of Anecoop's exports." One of the projects the company is currently working on is the creation of a trading platform for vegetables, in which initially Camposol and subsequently Hortamar and Coprohnijar will become integrated.
It is a tool aimed to optimise product sales for these associated companies. The main products are tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, seedless watermelon and melon.
Since 1990, Anecoop has offices in Aguadulce with 21 people on staff. It also works closely with the University to facilitate research on new varieties at an experimental plantation in order to diversify the production.
Anecoop expects to close this year with similar figures to the historic results achieved last year: 737,000 tonnes of citrus, fruits, vegetables and wines, which accounted for a total 594 million Euro in revenue, through its 72 partner cooperatives representing the interests of 50,000 growers and sustaining 1,500 jobs. 86% of the produce is intended for export.
No other firm in the sector reaches 64 different markets, with Germany and France as the main clients. The Anecoop Group has a marketing structure consisting of four offices in Spain: Valencia, Murcia, Seville and Almeria, and seven subsidiaries abroad (six in Europe and one in Asia), as well as three logistics platforms in Spain, Slovakia and France and a processing firm. The group employs 350 people.
Anecoop's summer fruit season, including its Bouquet seedless watermelon, has been affected by the cancellation of sales and lower prices caused by the Russian veto. The company, led by Joan Mir, is working to minimise the effects of the current situation by re-directing its shipments to other countries such as Germany, Poland or the Czech Republic.
Anecoop was created in 1975 with the association of 31 citrus cooperatives from Castellón and Valencia, which decided to come together to concentrate supply and be more competitive in the international markets. Thereafter, new companies became members, including some of those operating greenhouses in Almeria.
Source: lavozdealmeria.es
