The Guillem Export and Frutas Tono groups have reached an agreement to merge their citrus production and marketing businesses, giving rise to a new group that will market more than 200 million kilos and will be present in more than 25 countries.
The founding families Guillem and Vercher, both originally from the Region of Valencia, will share management duties.
With more than 70 years of history in the citrus sector, Guillem Export and Frutas Tono are giving rise to a large family group, which will allow the companies to develop economies of scale, facilitating greater vertical integration throughout the value chain. It has more than 3,000 hectares for their own productions, as well as a wide portfolio of orange, mandarin, grapefruit and lemon varieties. The company is also firmly committed to the development of new and innovative orange, mandarin, grapefruit and lemon varieties.
The combined production capacity, with a great percentage of the production in the Region of Valencia, but with volumes also in other growing areas in Seville, Cordoba, Huelva, Murcia or Tarragona, will allow Guillem Export and Frutas Tono to handle close to 100 million kilos of their own production, which is around 50% of the joint volume they were already trading with as wholesalers.
After signing the agreement, Fernando Guillem, president of Guillem Export, stated that: "This step is key to moving forward in the growth strategy we have been implementing in recent years, which has included the integration of the commercial branch of Frutas Romu, the acquisition of Mugui (Guillem Muñoz) and now the merger with Tono."
For his part, Antonio Vercher, president of Frutas Tono, said that "both families wished to thank our customers and employees for all their support, which is allowing us to continue growing and consolidating as a leading group in the sector."
The group's new structure will allow a closer relationship with customers, extending and improving the service and quality all year round. In recent years, both companies have been pursuing this with investments in digitalization, process automation and improvements in their facilities.
Founded in 1997 and based in Xeresa, Guillem Export is already one of the leading specialists in the production and distribution of citrus fruits, with vertical integration of the entire value chain, from the field to the final consumer. It manages around 130 million kilos per year and has 1,200 employees.
Frutas Tono, founded in the late 70's, is a leader in the cultivation and wholesale marketing of citrus fruits. Headquartered in Benifairó, Valencia, it cultivates 1,000 hectares of its own and markets the productions in its own facilities. It is managed by Antonio Vercher, third generation of the founding family, and has 1,500 employees. It operates in almost all EU countries and has expanded its international activity to China.
