Kersia is continuing its global development by acquiring a majority stake in the family business Ikochimiki, a leading player in the Greek market for biosecurity solutions in the food industry and food service areas. This acquisition allows the group to strengthen its presence in the Balkans and to join the top 3 Greek players in this sector, thus consolidating its activities throughout the food chain.
At the same time, the company is joining forces with Beta Procesos, a leading independent and family-owned company in the Mexican agri-food and food service. With an extensive national network, this manufacturer and distributor of detergent and disinfectant products opens up new growth prospects for Kersia on the Central American continent.
These two strategic transactions based on solid complementarities reaffirm Kersia’s ambition: to become the world leader in food safety throughout the food chain to guarantee consumers safe food. Driven by an ambitious development plan, the French group, which is present in more than 120 countries, now has a turnover of €685 million, for a total workforce of more 3,100 employees worldwide.
Said Sébastien Bossard, President of Kersia: “For more than a year, we have been working strategically to strengthen our international presence to accelerate our development. Expanding our presence around the world through first-rate acquisitions and partnerships means giving us the means to contribute fully and effectively to the safety of the entire food chain. By that, I mean: from farm to fork, on all continents. Our global and multimodal approach illustrates our ambition to be a pioneering and responsible leader.”
With the acquisition of Ikochimiki, the Kersia Group confirms the success of its numerous alliances and collaborations with family businesses, with which it shares the values of proximity, agility and transparency. Two of his children, Sofia and Thanasis, are part of the new organization in the positions of Chief Operations Officer (COO) and General Sales director and Sales director for Food Service (HORECA) for Greece and the Balkans, respectively. The newly formed entity will certainly take advantage of the combined and complementary skills of Kersia (skilled sales and technical team, sense of innovation and international vision) and Ikochimiki (experience, proximity and knowledge of the local market) to conquer new markets and new first-class customers.
Commented Dr. Christos Karaoulis, founder and CEO of Ikochimiki: ” Following the completion of our new industrial facilities, we made the decision to take a significant step in expanding our business. We transferred most of our capital to the global leader of our industry Kersia, after deciding to collaborate with them. Kersia and Ikochimiki are determined to work together and achieve even more. The Karaoulis family will continue to oversee Ikochimiki’s operations.”
Kersia has also just made a strategic partnership with Beta Procesos a leading player in Mexico in the food service, agri-food and hotel industries. Through this high-potential partnership, the French group intends to increase its strength in a strategic high-growth market, by extending its presence in all segments of the food chain.
By benefiting from a new, highly strategic industrial location in Central America, the group – which until now had only one sales subsidiary in Mexico – is gaining a foothold and privileged access to an area with very significant potential due to its population density. This proximity boosts the commercial strength of the two partners in the agriculture and beverage markets, in particular the brewing market. For more visit kersia-group.com
