Gerber Emig and Refresco to Merge
Gerber Emig and Refresco have agreed to merge to create a leading pan-European bottler of soft drinks and fruit juices to serve retail and branded customers.
Gerber Emig is a significant European bottling company with focus on juice and juice drinks. Tracing its history back to 1919, the company’s private label production is complemented by contract manufacturing for branded players. The company has volumes of about 1.5 billion litres and revenue of Eur801 million. Gerber Emig operates production plants in the UK, France, Germany and Poland. It is headquartered in Bridgwater, UK and employs about 1,700 people.
Founded in 2000, Refresco is a leading European bottler of soft drinks and fruit juices for retailers and branded players with production in the Benelux, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy, the UK, Poland and Finland. The company has volumes of about 5 billion litres and revenue of Eur1.5 billion. Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from 100% fruit juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, pouches, and glass. It is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and employs about 3,000 peope.
Andrew Biles, Group Chief Executive of Gerber Emig, comments: “Gerber Emig and Refresco are highly regarded industry players with complementary know–how, geography, products and technology. The new group will be a logical combination for Gerber Emig and all stakeholders providing greater scale and an enhanced capability for industry innovation. I am looking forward to making the most of the opportunities that come with being part of a broader European group.”
Hans Roelofs, Chief Executive Officer of Refresco, says: “As one company, Refresco and Gerber Emig will be in a better position to follow its customers’ international growth and to address industry opportunities and challenges. Sharing best practice and innovation, the combined company will blend the best talents and capabilities of both businesses. It will offer customers more choice, greater proximity and increased market access.”
The combined business will benefit from continuity of both senior management teams. Upon completion Hans Roelofs will become CEO of the new group and Andrew Biles will join the senior management team of the new group based at the head office in Rotterdam.
The transaction is subject to the approval of competition authorities and is expected to be completed before the end of summer 2013. Until completion of the transaction, both companies will continue to operate independently. Integration into one corporate structure will begin following the close of the transaction.
