Press release, 21 April 2008, Gardabaer, Boxmeer: Marel Food Systems and Stork Food Systems are pleased to announce that European competition authorities have approved Marel’s acquisition of the Stork Food Systems division of Stork N.V. The two companies had announced an agreement on the acquisition, subject to various conditions, in November 2007. These conditions have now been met.

United, the two companies will be a forerunner in the development of equipment for the food processing industry, with a combined turnover of 660 million Euros and more than four thousand employees. 

Marel and Stork have a complementary product portfolio with virtually no overlap. On the contrary, many customers will find that our solutions work together and complement each other in production. In poultry processing, for example, Marel’s overhead bin graders are a perfect complement to Stork’s automatic cut-up system, and Marel’s belt graders follow Stork’s front-half filleting solutions. 

“We expect to further improve on the integration of these and similar solutions now that we are joined together in one company,” says Hörður Arnarson, President and CEO of Marel Food Systems. “Sharing our technology will become much easier. Our customers will certainly benefit from this.”

Customers are expected to benefit in other ways as well. “A much larger international network of experts is now available to our customers, covering a larger range of their core production processes in fish, meat, poultry and dairy products,” says Theo Hoen, President of Stork Food Systems. “And the fact we belong to one company reduces our customers’ need to involve multiple parties in their projects, thus reducing their project risks.”

“The acquisition will certainly not change our market approach,” adds Mr. Arnarson. “Nor will we deviate from our customer-oriented service and innovation strategy. These elements will continue to be the pillars of our future operations as we expand the range of products and solutions on offer.”

Further information is available online at www.marelfoodsystems.com/stork

Press information:    
Marel Food Systems
Jón Ingi Herbertsson
Phone: +354-563-8451
Mobile : +354-825-8451
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