Devos Group and peer Wouters Fruit, both based in Belgium, have announced plans to merge their trading businesses.
The family firms, specialising in apple and pear production, will come together on 1 August under the name Devos-Wouters.
The financial details of the merger have not been disclosed.
Devos, based in Gettbets in the Flemish Brabant province in Flanders, has been growing and packing fruit since 1984. It has production facilities in Belgium and France and supplies apples, pears and soft fruit.
Wouters, based in the same province, supplies the same fruit products with the addition of some vegetables from facilities at home and in Slovakia. The fifth-generation family business has been exporting since 1992.
The companies said the merger will involve the vertical integration of production, cooling, sorting and packaging while sales will be further expanded.
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They suggested it will offer customers larger volumes, a greater reliability of supply and faster service.
Devos-Wouters will also expand its activities in soft fruits in the future, the companies said.
In a statement announcing the merger, the businesses said: “Both family-run enterprises boast a rich history of their own production and global exports, grounded in strong local roots and a complementary trading portfolio that serves both domestic and international markets. Their key attributes include a familial ethos, innovation in supply and production through new varieties, in-house production, and exceptional service for both customers and growers.”
Wouters’ Silke Wouters said: “Our families have been friends for years and share the same values and vision. We both started as growers and will continue to produce fruit with passion in the future. That is our foundation. Our trading companies perfectly complement each other, each with their own specialties and markets. This collaboration feels natural, and we are tremendously excited about what the future holds.”
Pieter Devos, of Devos Group, added: “A merger can only succeed if both parties share the same vision. With Devos-Wouters, we aim to establish a strong brand that serves producers and customers alike. Together, we are stronger than ever.”
