Raynal et Roquelaure, one of France’s leading ready meals producers, is investing EUR15m (US$22m) over the next four years to raise capacity and modernise its production facilities.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The investment will go to three plants in the south of France in response to an upturn in the conserves market.
The company specialises in dishes like coq au vin and boeuf bourguinon, as well as rice and chicken and blaquette de veau, which are presented in plastic barquettes and tins.
The programme began last month with Raynal et Roquelaure installing a production line at its Sainte-Livrade plant with an annual capacity of 40m dishes.
In 2007, supermarket volumes of plastic barquette ready meals showed growth of 28% in France and helped arrest the steady decline in demand for tinned conserves, which rose by only 1%, a senior company official told just-food.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataIn 2003, Raynal et Roquelaure doubled its size through the acquisition of Buitoni from Nestlé. The brand was renamed Zapetti in 2005.
The company is expected to report a 2007 turnover of EUR168m, up 6% on the year.
