3 April 2008 – Newly formed French grain co-op Axéréal, a result of the merger between Agralys and Epis-Centre, has acquired family-owned Celbert via one of its holding companies, French media report.
With this acquisition, Axéréal, already France’s top grain co-op, will become the country’s third largest milling group.
Brittany-based Celbert is best known for its Francine brand of flour. It owns ten mills and produces 200,000 tonnes of flour annually, compared to Axéréal’s four mills and 100,000 tonnes annual flour production.
Axéréal will be looking at further investments, especially in processing operations such as milling and malting, where there are higher margins to be had, Agralys General Director Daniel Marie was reported as saying.