Campofrio Food Group completes the acquisition of Salaisons Moroni, the leading producer of chorizo in France.

Through Groupe Aoste, Campofrio Food Group has acquired French market leader in chorizo sausage, Salaisons Moroni, thereby consolidating further its leading position in the dry sausage category in France. This new acquisition follows the recently completed joint venture transaction in Romania in July which resulted in the creation of the leading processed meat company there, Caroli Foods Group. Both of these transactions are in line with the overall strategy of Campofrio Food Group of bringing new growth platforms to the company.

Campofrio Food Group, Europe's leading producer of meat-based convenience foods, has completed the acquisition by its French operating company Groupe Aoste of chorizo sausage market leader Salaisons Moroni, a transaction associated with its focused growth program. This program, which focuses the company's investments into geographic and product category segments it considers most attractive, is in support of Campofrio Food Group’s previously announced goal of reaching above industry growth rates and double digit EBITDA margins by 2012.

Salaisons Moroni is the French market leader in chorizo sausage with 3.800 tons produced and a turnover of more than 18 million euros in 2009. By expanding its activities to this new segment, Groupe Aoste will be further consolidating its leading position in the dry sausage category, and offer to the French consumers an even more attractive portfolio of quality products under strong national brands as well as under the retail brands of its major customers. The integration will be completed effectively in the coming months.

This transaction not only strengthens the group’s position in the related business segments but brings important brands and dynamic teams to its mission of building Europe's leader in meat-based convenience foods. Complimenting announced solid organic branded volume growth, transactions such as this bring new growth platforms to the company. In addition, each will take advantage of the proven integration expertise and yield important synergies.

In this sense, Campofrio Food Group completed recently also the transaction of a joint venture in Romania with Caroli Foods with the creation of a new company which will operate under the Caroli Foods Group name, becoming leading processed meat company of the country.