Omer-Decugis & Cie and PrepWorld create joint venture

Omer-Decugis & Cie and PrepWorld have today announced the creation of a new strategic joint venture to develop the fresh cut fruit market in France.

Through a state-of-the-art fresh cut fruit factory, to be built in the port of Dunkirk, they will supply a consistent, high quality fresh cut offer, at scale, to French and European markets.

Omer-Decugis & Cie (ISIN code: FR0014003T71; Symbol: ALODC), an international group specialising in fresh and exotic fruits and vegetables, and PrepWorld – the UK leader in fresh cut fruit and a division of BerryWorld Limited, owned by the AgroBerries Group – today announced the creation of strategic joint venture: PrepWorld France.

Located on the future logistics platform of Omer-Decugis & Cie at the Port of Dunkirk, this new venture will focus on accelerating the development of the fresh cut market in France, with a broader ambition to serve key European markets.

The French fresh cut market, estimated to be worth ~€200m, has seen consistent growth year on year. With a population of over sixty-eight million people, annual whole head fruit consumption of 124kg per capita, per year (351g per person, per day) and an increasing demand for convenience, fresh cut fruit in France is a category ripe with opportunity.

“In recent years, we have seen the fresh cut fruit category gain strong momentum across European markets, becoming a key consumption driver for products such as pineapples, mangoes, berries and more.

Fresh cut fruit combines the most powerful consumer trends – health-conscious eating, plant-based lifestyle, and convenience – making it one of the most promising segments in fresh produce today whether in retail distribution, or in food service,” comments Vincent Omer-Decugis, chairman and CEO of Omer-Decugis & Cie.

As market-leaders in UK fresh cut category insight and new product development, the PrepWorld team are motivated to bring their category knowledge and learnings to the French and European markets. “PrepWorld are incredibly excited by this new partnership with Omer-Decugis & Cie. Our team have long recognised the opportunity across France and more widely in Europe, to provide high quality, consistent, fresh cut fruit, fuelled by our category insights and innovations.” shares Benjamin Olins, CEO of PrepWorld.

Omer-Decugis & Cie and PrepWorld will collaborate through a co-financed joint venture, of which, ownership will be equally shared. It will operate as a fully integrated team, enabling both partners to leverage their complementary expertise to establish a market leader in fresh-cut fruit.

“Entering this market is a natural step for our group, fully aligned with our long-term vision of integrated produce operations, from farm to distribution. We strongly believe that this joint venture, bringing together the complementary expertise of BerryWorld, PrepWorld and Omer-Decugis & Cie, will play a key role in developing the category’s full potential in France.” explains Vincent Omer-Decugis, Chaiman and CEO of Omer-Decugis & Cie.

“In Omer-Decugis & Cie, we have found a complimentary partner; their vertical integration in tropicals and in-depth understanding of the French and European commercial arena, go hand in hand with PrepWorld’s longstanding procurement expertise, excellence in manufacturing, quality and compliance,” highlights Benjamin Olins, CEO of PrepWorld.

The PrepWorld France site has been strategically considered. Its location at the Port of Dunkirk within Omer-Decugis & Cie’s new fresh produce integrated platform will provide a sustainable and efficient chain of intake, ripening and processing, whilst also providing easy access to France, the UK, and Continental Europe.

“Designed to be the most innovative, produce-driven and customer-focused fresh-cut facility in the country, PrepWorld France will be located within our next-generation logistic and ripening platform in Dunkirk, and will serve as a cornerstone of our commitment to low-carbon, integrated logistics,” explains Vincent Omer-Decugis, chairman and CEO of Omer-Decugis & Cie.

“The creation of PrepWorld France represents a logical next step in the evolution of our fresh cut offer and the new site at Dunkirk perfectly complements our UK site at Northfleet. Strategically co-locating our fresh cut facility alongside Omer-Decugis & Cie’s ripening and logistics platform will ensure we deliver the freshest, high-quality product to market, in the most efficient and consistent way,” states Benjamin Olins, CEO of PrepWorld.