Global fresh produce supplier Univeg has acquired top-fruit importer and distributor Empire World Trade (EWT).
In a move that confirms the company’s UK ambitions,Univeg said that the purchase is in line with its continued strategic focus and development of the UK market place.
A spokesperson added that it will use the venture to build a significant market share for Univeg own production in top fruit.
The joint businesses will be known as Univeg UK, and will be co-managed by Alan Forrester and Mike Harpham.
David Pratt, former managing director of Lincoln-based EWT, will become a director of Univeg UK.
A spokesperson for Univeg UK said: “This is an opportunity to provide an added dimension to our product portfolio. With the EWT team on board we see this as an ideal opportunity to build a significant market share for Univeg own production in top fruit.”
The news comes after EWT last year claimed to be revamping its business after a difficult 2012.
In February 2013, Pratt told FPJ that EWT was bouncing back from “a very tough year”, after the company posted a loss of £174,00 after tax for the year ending 28 April, 2012.
He said that a lot of the crop had been destroyed by frost in 2011 and the company had been hit pretty hard, but insisted that “lots had changed”.
Belgium-based Univeg is a worldwide supplier of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and logistical services. It had a €2.8 billion turnover from fruit and vegetables in 2012 and employs 5,700 people.
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