European Food Transport NV, Sint-Katelijne-Waver
The Univeg –group has gone through a rapid expansion in its relatively short history.
The start was in 1983, when Hein Deprez, the present CEO of the group, set up a mushroom farm in Belsele (Belgium).
In 1987 the Uni-Veg holding was founded.
In the years 1990-1992 two importers were taken over and merged in 1996 to become Univeg Import, in order to centralise all import activities.
In the nineties Univeg entered the market of pre-cut vegetables and salads, went into potato packaging and potato preparations in Belgium and France and moved headquarters to St Katelijne Waver (1994), where also a fresh produce distribution centre, named Novaveg, was set up.
Transport activities were centralised in what later was to become European Food Transport (EFT). The acquisition of Freshway further strengthened the position in the cut/ prepacked salads and vegetables market and the group really started to expand internationally by participations in a.o. Seald Sweet ( Florida, citrus) and Vanderschoot (Bulbs and flowers, Netherlands).
In 1999 a 22.000 m2 distribution centre was started in Poland and Univeg Portugal was set up. In 2001 a12.000 m2 distribution centre was put into use in Portugal.
The group had further expansion in Flower and Bulbs in 2000 and later by taking over Winchester Growers in the UK and by merging the newly acquired company Moolenaar with Vanderschoot into Bulbs and Flowers International.
Majority participation was taken in Forbel (Uruguay, citrus).
2003 saw expansion in South Africa; various farms and packing stations (stone fruit, grapes, apples and pears, cherries, various citrus groves).
Hot Cuisine (ready-made meals) with plants in Ghent and Varberg (Sweden) was taken over in 2004.
An important step was taken by the acquisition of Bakker Barendrecht in 2005. Bakker is the dedicated supplier of fruits and vegetables and related services to Albert Heijn, the leading retailer in the Netherlands. This take-over doubled the size of the group.
In 2006 the biggest move in the history of Univeg until now has been the merger with the Verona-based Bocchi group, doubling the size of Univeg once more. Bocchi has own production areas in Europe and in South and Central America producing mainly for their main market, Germany.
2006 also saw the start of distribution centres in Russia (Moscow) and Bulgaria for important retail chains.
The leitmotiv of all this expansion and indeed of all of the group’s activities has always been, is and will continue to be: we do what the market asks and what we anticipate as future demands.
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Contact info
European Food Transport NV
Fortsesteenweg 27
Sint-Katelijne-Waver
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Trefwoorden: Transport, Vervoer, Logistiek, Gekoelde Goederen, Transporteren, Orderpicken, Containers
Rubrieken: Transport, Vervoer-koel-diepvrieswagens, Gekoeld transport