Looking to further expand its global reach, The Jupiter Group announced Thursday it has acquired Dutch fresh produce marketing company Cool Fresh International BV.
As part of the deal, the Shropshire-based company, which specialises in grapes as well as citrus, top fruit, stone fruit and tropicals, will take over Cool Fresh International’s logistics division Saphir BV, and the Valencia (Spain) based commercial operation AgroMarketing Cool Fresh Espana.
“We are extremely excited about bringing the team and expertise of Cool Fresh International into the Jupiter family,” says Mark Tweddle, The Jupiter Group’s chief executive and group director. “Our own grape and citrus production in countries such as South Africa, Greece, Chile and Argentina create great synergies with Cool Fresh International’s client base across 54 countries, meaning we can further explore the broad retail base across the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa.”
Cool Fresh International not only features several fresh produce brands from its three locations, but also has been adept at collaborating with fresh produce growers and retailers through its sustainability initiatives and its community development projects via sport and education.
“We are really excited to become part of Jupiter’s outstanding teams all over the world,” says Hugo Vermeulen, managing director of Cool Fresh. “The acquisition enables us to focus on our expertise, together offering our worldwide clients tailor-made, direct-from-farm solutions to their fresh produce requirements.”
The agreement comes on the heels of Jupiter Group’s acquisition of South African citrus producer Bonaire in November 2018. It recently started harvesting the first of its new table grape varieties planted in South Africa, India, South America and Greece.
“We are fully geared to offer the added value this acquisition brings to the benefit of our retail, food service and wholesale clients all over the world,” says Tweddle. “By 2021 we estimate the delivery of more than eight million cartons into our supply chain.”
The Jupiter Group, whose sales have grown more than 100 per cent in the past two years, was recently named to the Top 25 of the Sunday Times International Track 200.
