Grupo Fuertes to acquire Spain’s Agropor, awaits regulatory approval

SPAIN – Grupo Fuertes, a Spanish agri-food company, is in the process of acquiring pork producer Agropor, pending approval from the country’s competition authority.

The acquisition is being handled through Fuertes’ livestock division, Cefusa, which confirmed that an agreement has been reached between the two businesses.

However, the deal must first be cleared by Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition before it can proceed.

Fuertes, based in Alhama de Murcia, did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction or provide additional details about the acquisition.

Agropor, headquartered in Las Torres de Cotillas, Murcia, has been in operation since 1972. The company is primarily engaged in pig farming and pork supply but also cultivates citrus fruits and cereal crops such as barley.

Fuertes operates across various sectors, including pig and cattle farming, poultry and cheese production, and beverage manufacturing.

The company’s portfolio also extends to real estate and petrochemicals.

Fuertes still pursuing Uvesa takeover amid competition

In addition to the Agropor deal, Fuertes remains interested in acquiring Spanish poultry processor Uvesa.

The company submitted a takeover offer for Uvesa earlier this year, but the bid is facing competition from Ukraine-based MHP, which is also looking to buy the business.

MHP submitted a binding offer in December.

When asked for an update on the Uvesa bid, a Fuertes spokesperson stated that there were no new developments.

Uvesa, established in 1964 and headquartered in Tudela, Navarra, operates in the poultry sector, supplying fresh and frozen chicken, marinated products, sausages, meatballs, and charcuterie. It also raises pigs to supply fresh pork to the food industry.

The outcome of both acquisitions remains uncertain as Fuertes awaits regulatory approval for one deal while competing with another company for the other.

Spain poultry industry outlook

According to recent data, Spain produces around 1.7 million metric tons of poultry meat annually, with a steady growth rate of around 0.6% since 2017.

This places the country among the top 20 poultry producing countries globally; the majority of this production consists of broiler chicken and turkey meat, with exports primarily directed towards France, Portugal, and Italy.

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