Ardooie, Belgium, December 1 - Ardo has taken over the Austrian company Austria Frost GmbH on December 1st. 'Ardo Austria Frost GmbH' is the new company name. This take-over will engender an extra turnover of EUR40mio for Ardo.
Ardo will consolidate and build on the leading market position of Ardo Austria Frost in its home market Austria.
This take-over fits fully within Ardo's expansion policy. Austria is the perfect location for the further development of Ardo's market position within the surrounding Central Eastern European countries.
In its continuous search for new crop production areas, this take-over means a perfect opportunity for Ardo. Indeed, the production unit of Ardo Austria Frost is situated in the middle of the 'Marchfeld', a 40.000ha fertile growing area on the banks of the Danube, with crops among others of peas, spinach, carrots. The agronomy has been developed for many decades in line with the needs of the industry and the final consumer. In addition to traditional vegetables, important volumes of organic vegetables are grown for production at Ardo Austria Frost.
Within the framework of this acquisition, Ardo's relationship with Iglo Austria will be an integral part of their growth strategy for the business.
Thanks to Ardo Austria Frost's wide product range of fresh frozen products and its packaging technologies, this take-over will add further value to Ardo's existing portfolio. Several innovative and local products, for example vegetable burgers, Knödel (wheat dumplings with sweet or sour fillings), puff pastry or many prepared vegetables can be perfectly integrated within Ardo's core business of fresh frozen vegetables, fruit, herbs, pasta and rice.
Austria Frost in a nutshell
Austria Frost GmbH has been owned by Frenzel Tiefkalkost e.K.. In 2007 the company produced 35.000 tonnes of finished product, with approximately 360 employees.
The production unit is located 10km east of Vienna, in the middle of the vegetable growing area 'Marchfeld', an area with leading European quality vegetables.
Austria Frost has a modern production facility with a fully automated logistics platform.
The product range comprises of fresh frozen vegetables and a wide range of added value products.
Ardo in a nutshell
Ardo has been "preserving the precious gifts of nature" - the company motto - for more than 40 years. Year after year, harvest after harvest, Ardo supplies its continuously growing markets around the world with high quality fresh frozen vegetables, fruit, pasta & rice.
Ardo, a Belgian family owned company, began its activities in the world of vegetables in the 1950s, starting to grow and trade vegetables at the family farm near the village of Ardooie in Belgium. The village gave the company its name, and the farm provided the site for Ardo's first vegetable freezing factory, built in 1977. Over the following years, Ardo developed its production and sales of frozen vegetables throughout Europe. Today Ardo owns fifteen production and packing units in nine European countries. In 2007 the group grew, froze and sold 513,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables to 52 countries, with a turnover of 520mio euro. From the far north to the deep south of Europe, the name "Ardo" is synonymous with exceptional quality and service.
The Ardo product range offers a wide variety of frozen vegetables, vegetable mixes, vegetable preparations and fruit. Continuous innovation in developing products and production methods hand-in-hand with the customer ensures a fruitful association.
Ardo delivers a wide portfolio to customers active in foodservice, retail and industry. Flexibility, market - and product knowledge are the keystones of Ardo's philosophy.
Ardo's core values can be summarized in five pillars : customers, employees, product & product innovation, agronomy and value creation.