September 1st SVZ International B.V., subsidiary of Cosun, announced the intended sale of their Baarland activities to A. Murre Investment in ‘s Gravenpolder. SVZ Baarland BV, produces pickled and brined vegetables for industrial applications such as silver skin onions, gherkins / cucumbers and cauliflower.
SVZ requested advice from its Workers Council, started talks with the Unions, and has reported its intentions to the SER, the Dutch Social Economic Council.
Most important reason for the sale is the strategic shift from both fruits and vegetable processing to a focus on just fruit processing (mainly berries and other red fruits). At the same time margins on brined and pickled industrial vegetables are under increasing pressure, and revenues have been declining sharply over past years. With the acquisition, A. Murre Investment BV will be able to achieve significant upscaling, something considered necessary to survive current developments.
All permanent employees will continue to be employed at the new owners’ organisation.
SVZ trusts that the sale of the activities provides the best guarantee for the continuity of the operation, and the employment of its co-workers.
SVZ International B.V. is a leading producer of industrial food ingredients with production facilities in The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Morocco and USA. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Cosun, a Netherlands based co-operative of sugar beet growers.