Lantmännen Solanum has sold its potato processing operation to a group of growers. The reception, storage and sorting for external clients will however remain within Lantmännen Solanum.
The potato processing within Lantmännen Solanum has in recent years continuously grown into a larger operation. Lantmännen now chooses to divest this business. A group of growers have signed contracts with Lantmännen, stipulating the overtake of the operation as of September 1.
”This sale is in line with the Group strategy to focus on our core business in order to become leaner and stronger. This way, the potato processing will get a number of engaged, Swedish growers for owners – which feels very positive,” says Thomas Bodén, Chairman of the Board at Lantmännen.
The growers have formed the company Solanum Odlarna i Kävlinge AB and have secured financing for further development of the operations. All thirteen employees at the production site in Kävlinge outside Lund in Sweden will be offered continued employment.
Lantmännen Solanum’s potato products are aimed at both foodservice and consumers, and are sold under the brands Solanum and Alströmer.
”The market for this kind of processed potato products is constantly growing. Customers appreciate that the produce is Swedish and that the products are of a high quality,” says Reinhold Svensson, Business Area Manager at Lantmännen Invest – where Lantmännen Solanum is included.
Lantmännen Solanum is one of Sweden’s leading companies for collection and processing of fresh and refrigerated potato products. The largest potato storage space in northern Europe is located at Solanum’s facility in Kävlinge. Lantmännen continues to be the owner of the operations not related to processing – that is, reception, storage and sorting of potatoes.