Three French firms, Louis Gad, co-operative CECAB and Prestor, are merging their pork processing activities to create a new industry giant, subject to regulatory approval.
The enlarged company will span breeding, slaughtering, processing and international trading and generate an annual turnover of EUR725m (US$999m). Some 680 breeders will supply up to 2.2m pigs towards a global production output of 368,000 tonnes a year.
Commenting on the move, Prestor president Guillaume Roué said the new group would have the size and scope to compete at the European level and “be able to defend the interests of breeders and partner the industry in its search for added value and customer satisfaction”.
Roué added that the merger would also contribute to consolidating a very fragmented sector in France.
Claiming second spot in the French market behind Cooperl, the new group, which has yet to be named, has outlined plans to invest more than EUR30m over the next five years at its production sites and to create between 400 and 500 jobs.
