After the expansion in the russian market, which is currently suffering, during the next several years Zuegg, the fruit processing company based in Verona, is planning to expand more in the U.S., considering one of the most promising market, actively cooperating with US companies and producers.“The United States is a wide marketplace for consumption” – president Oswald Zuegg explains to Italianfood.net – and strategically I believe that our society, currently really focused on European primacy, must facing it to secure a future of economic growth. Our business has already a trained base in US, in addition we are willing for a stable expansion with productive plant” The range of the new plant will be formed according to customers’ needs. The plant will produce fruit preparations for dairy and confectionery industries and will cooperate with major players in the local dairy industry, including Danone, Campina and Unimilk. “We are seeking for opportunity and future acquisitions to take over, and we have indeed 4-5 options on the table, but without hurry, because the actual geopolitics uncertainty recommends us to ponder well the choices.”
The topic is US market where the company is planning to growth more, reinforcing its presence among the 700 stores of Walmart. “We have entered for a while Walmart where we are present in 700 stores. For Walmart the Italian food made is strengthen as the taste that our fruit confers to the jams, but once found place to shelf it begins the true challenge, the sell out. Because if you don’t provide them the right turnover you don’t last”-he says to Foodweb.
Financial year 2014 ended with revenues eur 271 million, eur 163 million coming from b2c segment. This rate was eur 148 million in 2013. In February 2015 president Oswald Zuegg has bought 28% shares of Zuegg Group from cousins and relative to reach 100%shares, holding the control in the firm. The shareholding was disclosed the price of eur 12 million from Hiltraud, Zuegg’s brother with 11%, the others current shareholders were Mark Tilmann with 5,59% and Maerk Lucas with the 11,35%. “You cannot focused on company’s growth with so many cousins and relatives”- he commented. 100% of the company now is owned by him. Currently Zuegg Group operates 5 plants: 2 factories in Italy, 2 in Germany and 1 in France.