Spanish co-op invests in tomato processing

Spain's Acorex, a group of vegetable co-operatives based in the region of Extremadura, is to invest €13 million in a new tomato processing plant in the city of Vivares.

The plant will have a capacity of 200 million kilograms per year, and is located in the heart of the main tomato-growing region of Spain. Extremadura accounts for 86 per cent of the tomatoes processed in the country, including the leading brands Apis, Fruco and Starlux.

The new Acorex factory will mean that there are now 11 tomato processing plants in Extremadura, although most of them are currently quiet as the peak processing period is mid-July to mid-September.

Acorex is the biggest agricultural co-operative in the Extremadura region, with 43 co-operative members accounting for over 6,000 farmers. Its annual turnover is around €132 million.

However, its decision to locate the new plant in the small town of Vivares has not been without controversy. The previous Acorex management team had already pledged to build the plant in another location, Miajadas, which is considered the European tomato capital and where two other major processors, Nestle and Inpralsa, already have major facilities.