SPAIN – Spanish snacks maker Grupo Apex has acquired the former Patatas Lahera facility in Aleson in the La Rioja region of Spain.
The plant, which has been closed since 2021, will be reopened in December to make french fries, Grupo Apex said. Grupo Apex’s portfolio includes brands such as Aspitos and Mikso.
Grupo Apex said the facility will feature a continuous frying train, two frying pans, and two packaging lines. The company said it plans to make additional investments in the plant in 2024.
In a statement, Grupo Apex estimated the move will generate “more than 50 direct jobs”.
In its recent financial report, Grupo Apex reported that it reached a “new record” of turnover in the 2022-2023 financial year which ended in May, which allowed it to accelerate its growth by 35% and generated a turnover of €135m ($147.5m) in revenue.
Currently, the Navarrese company, whose shareholders carried out a capital increase of 7.5 million euros last April, has a total of ten work centers in Spain and a team of more than 550 people.
According to the company, in a year that has once again been challenging due to the global situation instability, and high prices of raw materials and energy, the Navarrese company has continued its strategy of growing exponentially.
It added that the maker of salty snacks doubles in size every four years, gaining presence in markets and sales channels, increasing its product portfolio, investing in its productive capacity, and increasing its talented and committed team
Grupo Apex has been active on the M&A front in recent years.
In June, the group snapped up local crisp maker Santi Reino for an undisclosed sum. Santo Reino manufactures chips, salty snacks, and nuts under its namesake brand.
Last year, Grupo Apex acquired the pop-up popcorn business of Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV and signed a long-term agreement granting it exclusive distribution for Spain, Portugal, and Andorra of the Eagle nuts brands.
In 2021, the company snapped up the potato chips and nuts business of Aperitivos Medina in Madrid, and Productos Emilio Arias Lizano, which manufactures peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds