Interview Buy Fuite
'With the takeover of Gosschalk we have achieved a double success'
With the takeover of the Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe, Fuite Group is now also active in beef. The family business, which has been operating in the compound feed market for generations, entered the meat world in 2017 and they are very pleased with it. With the acquisition of Gosschalk, the sales of veal and beef can be combined. "This allows us to make a double impact in the market," says Koop Fuite, who co-leads the meat sectors.
De takeover of the Gosschalk slaughterhouse by Fuite Group, which was in dire straits, was completed at the beginning of this week, when the WHOA procedure was approved by the judge. The news had already been announced in March, but the entire process had to be completed creditors the necessary efforts. Apart from that, the takeover is controversial. Although they are used to something at Fuite, it is a big deal with €200 million in extra turnover. In addition, the group's workforce almost doubles with approximately 200 new employees. In the new design, the name Gosschalk will be renamed FamilyBeef.
The takeover of Gosschalk was quite a rollercoaster for the outside world. Initially, VanDrie Group was to take over the virtually bankrupt slaughterhouse, but later it turned out that Fuite was the new buyer. When was your interest aroused?
"Even before the letter of intent with VanDrie Group, we were in discussions with Gosschalk about a possible takeover, but this did not initially lead to an agreement. When the letter of intent with VanDrie Group was terminated in February, we were approached again by Gosschalk. After that, We have still come to an agreement. The takeover has been legally completed this week, but in recent months we have already been active in the background in Epe."
You speak of a strategic decision and entering a new market. What are the plans for the slaughterhouse?
"The acquisition is interesting for several reasons. For many of our customers, beef is the basis and veal is the niche. Now we can offer both types of meat in combination. We are also active in chicken meat. This makes us a more interesting player in the market In recent months we have already been able to attract new customers. Gosschalk is a large slaughterhouse with a license to slaughter a large number of cattle. Epe is located at the intersection of the Veluwe and the Northern Netherlands. This is very favorable in terms of location. with a lot of livestock farming around. Finally, what also plays a role is that Epe is not far from Genemuiden. That offers practical advantages for us."
The name Gosschalk has become somewhat tarnished due to the vicissitudes in recent months. In addition, the slaughterhouse did not have the best reputation, due to animal welfare issues.
"You can look at this in several ways. There have indeed been animal welfare issues in the past, but the former owner has taken many measures to improve this. As a result, we are now leading the way in camera surveillance, for example. All in all, we think a good takeover."
The slaughter capacity is not small. How exactly are you going to organize the chain?
"Part of the supply, about a third, will come from our calf chain. We purchase the rest of the cattle from livestock farmers and traders. We will stop slaughtering pigs, as was previously done. This does not suit our focus. We strive for long-term, solid and future-proof relationships with our suppliers, the NVWA and our customers. The supply will mainly come from dairy farming in different variations, on the basis of which we can deliver the desired high quality to our customers. The trick is to to get the right customer to the right meat part. If we achieve this well, it will yield a good price for the livestock farmer up front. That is what we strive for. I cannot yet make any concrete promises about our payment prices, but give us It takes some time to get this done. We notice that there is confidence in the market. In recent months we have already slaughtered 1.600 cattle every week in Epe, while there were still concerns about insolvency, because we were not yet legally the owner. Now that the takeover has been finalized, those concerns have been alleviated. We therefore expect to be able to grow towards the number of slaughters per day that is in line with the permit."
Buy Fuite
Looking at the Fuite Group as a whole, you are certainly not sitting still. In addition to the acquisition of Gosschalk, you are building a new premix factory in Hasselt, whereby a strategic partnership was entered into with Cargill. You implicitly express a lot of confidence in Dutch livestock farming, while the sector is heading for decline...
"Apart from some questionable political views, we are convinced of the agricultural strength in our country. The knowledge and expertise that is concentrated here is unparalleled worldwide. In terms of logistics and climate, we can also produce efficiently. And don't forget the entrepreneurial spirit of the Dutch farmers. We are therefore optimistic about the future, especially now that the political wind will probably blow from a different direction in a new cabinet. Moreover, food production is becoming increasingly important, also from a geopolitical perspective. Let us not forget that."
Finally, but not unimportant: Gosschalk's name will be changed to FamilyBeef. Why this name?
"A catchy name is important, both to our employees and customers. Besides the fact that FamilyBeef sounds good internationally, it also has a meaning. Our goal is to put a brand on the market. Eating meat is often a family affair that has a unifying effect. We want to actively convey this message with the new name."
Wouter Job
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