Provence Tomate renamed Le Panier Provençal

The CAPL Group ("Provence-Languedoc Agricultural Cooperative") continues to diversify its operations by taking over the tomato processing factory in Tarascon. The plan that CAPL has put together for relaunching Provence Tomate activities was approved early August by the Tarascon Commercial Court. The company is run under the statute of a SASU (Simplified Joint-Stock Company) and has now been renamed "Le Panier Provençal" (= the Provençal basket) , a 100% subsidiary of the CAPL. 

The agricultural cooperative CAPL has taken over the operations of the Tarascon-based food company specialized in processing tomatoes. "This acquisition allows the group to consolidate its presence on the market and to implement a strategy that allows it to constantly improve its support for growers in the region," said the Cooperative's leadership in a press statement. In order to achieve this, the group has set up a 100% subsidiary of CAPL called "Le Panier Provençal". This project will make use of all of the factory's infrastructures. This includes keeping on the 17 permanent employees and preserving the company's 80 seasonal jobs. The main objective of this acquisition, according to the new owners, is to ensure that processing tomato growers are guaranteed a fair price for their products.
"Le Panier Provençal" will pursue and develop current operations by diversifying the plant's production: "With this new subsidiary, the CAPL is hoping to become a leader in the field of processed food products made from tomatoes in the southeastern quarter of France." Panier Provençal leadership will be the responsibility of the CAPL, and Frédéric Baeza, a veteran of 20 years in the food industry, has been designated as the new Director.

The cooperative group CAPL is made up of about 20 companies involved in regional agricultural services since 1884 in the southeastern part of France. With a consolidated turnover of EUR 115 million and more than 460 employees, the group is well-established in the area and is acknowledged as a major player throughout the region. "Le Panier Provençal", as a subsidiary of CAPL, is the biggest French tomato processor and primary supplier to the industry in France.

Source: Vaucluse Agricole