Date: 19.02.2024
CE FMCG a.s. signed the contract regarding the acquisition of FRUTA Podivín, a.s. from the group Orkla Food Česko a Slovensko on xx February 2024. The sale is subject to approval by the Office for the Protection of Competition. The price of the transaction is not disclosed.
CE FMCG a.s. is part of the CE Industries a.s. industrial group owned by Czech entrepreneur Jaroslav Strnad. Orkla Food Česko a Slovensko a.s. is part of the globally operating Orkla Group based in Norway, a leading supplier of branded consumer goods.
Andrej Čírtek, spokesman of CE Industries a.s., says: "CE Industries' strategy is to grow in the FMCG segment and specifically in the food industry, in which it owns, for example, Kaumy and Kávoviny. Fruta Podivín is a food producer with a long tradition. At Fruta, we want to maintain the production of the current portfolio of quality Czech food and the jobs associated with it. Our intention is its long-term development."
Martin Frýdl, spokesman for Orkla Food Česko a Slovensko a.s., says: "Transaction enables Orkla Foods Czech and Slovakia to concentrate on the development of it´s key brands such as Vitana, Májka, Hame or Simply Fresh and thus further strengthen it´s position on the Czech market. We are glad that Fruta Podivin will get new strong owner who is going to preserve the tradition of food production and jobs in the localities."
Fruta Podivín is being sold as a functioning entity and therefore the employment contracts are not affected by the transaction.
The buyer and seller have agreed not to provide any further information beyond the scope of this press release until the Office approves the transaction and the transaction is subsequently settled.
About CE Industries
CE Industries is an industrial holding company operating on the European markets in rail transport, recycling of raw materials, energy and FMCG. In the FMCG segment, it owns BEOHEMIJA D.O.O. (a Serbian manufacturer of liquid and powder detergents and household cleaners), BEOHEMIJA CS s.r.o. (a Czech manufacturer of household and professional cleaning products), Kaumy (a Czech manufacturer of healthy foods) and Kávoviny (a Czech manufacturer of cereal drinks or cocoa). CE Industries achieved a turnover of CZK 10 billion in 2022 and employs over 2500 people in its companies in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia.
About Orkla Foods Czech Republic and Slovakia
“Created as a result of merger of Vitana, a.s. and Hamé s.r.o. in 2018, Orkla Foods Czech Republic and Slovakia is part of Orkla Foods Europe - a leading supplier of branded consumer goods in Scandinavia, the Baltics and Central Europe. It currently occupies the position of the second largest producer of packaged food in the Czech Republic and the fifth in Slovakia. After this transaction is effective, OF CaS will be manufacturing its products in a total of 8 plants in the Czech Republic. The turnover of the integrated group in 2022 exceeded CZK 8.2 billion and it exports its products to 63 countries around the world.”