GUILLEM EXPORT and Frutas Tono merge to create a family-owned giant in the citrus sector
THEY MANAGE MORE THAN 3,000 HECTARES The new group will market more than 200 million kilos and will be present in more than 25 countries The Guillem Export and Frutas Tono groups have reached an agreement to merge their citrus growing and marketing businesses, giving rise to a new group that will manage more than 200 million kilos and will be present in more than 25 countries. The founding families Guillem and Vercher, both from the Valencia region, will share management responsibilities.
With more than 70 years of history in the citrus sector, Guillem Export and Frutas Tono are taking this step to create a large family group that will allow the companies to develop economies of scale and greater vertical integration throughout the value chain, with more than 3,000 hectares of their own production and a wide portfolio of orange, mandarin, grapefruit and lemon varieties, with a firm commitment to varietal development and innovation. This union of capacities, with a high percentage of production in the Valencia Region, but at the same time diversified, with growing areas in Seville, Cordoba, Huelva, Murcia and Tarragona, will allow Guillem Export and Frutas Tono to have around 100 million kilos of their own production, around 50% of the joint volume they already deal with as wholesalers. After signing the agreement, Fernando Guillem, President of Guillem Export, declared that "this operation is key to progressing in the growth strategy implemented in recent years, after 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, affirms that "both families want to thank our clients and employees for all their support to continue growing and consolidating our position as a reference group in the sector".
The new structure of the group will allow a better approach to customers, extending and improving service and quality throughout the twelve months of the year, aspects in which both companies have been making progress in recent years thanks to their investments in digitalisation, process automation and improvements to facilities. GUILLEM EXPORT - Founded in 1997 and based in Xeresa, it is already one of the main specialists in the production and distribution of citrus fruits, with vertical integration of the entire value chain, from the field to the end consumer. It handles around 130 million kilos per year and has a workforce of 1,200 employees. FRUTAS TONO - Founded at the end of the 70s, this company is a benchmark in the cultivation and wholesale marketing of citrus fruits. Based in Benifairó (Valencia), it grows 1,000 hectares of its own crops and markets them in its own facilities. It is managed by Antonio Vercher, the third generation of the founding family, and has a staff of 1,500 people. It operates in almost all EU countries and has extended its international activity to China.
They will be exhibiting at Fruit Attraction at stand 3D15.