“Savel remains a 70% family business! », insists Éric Lefeuvre, general manager of Savel (470 employees, €150 million turnover in 2024). Tuesday November 12, 2024, the Lannilis poultry cutting and distribution company announced a restructuring of its capital with the entry of Unexo and Unigrains. “For personal reasons, Caroline Léon wanted to sell her shares and Julien Léon, half of his. Savel could not absorb this operation alone,” continues the CEO.
Strengthen the board of directors
Their brother and president of the company, Marc Léon, therefore decided on this opening of capital. “This also allows us to strengthen our board of directors with two experts in finance and the agri-food industry. We were already in contact with Unigrains, in particular, so we knew them,” continues Éric Lefeuvre.
After the acquisitions of Toque Bretonne in 2023 and Béziau last June, the Finistère group remains “listening to opportunities” for new external growth. Also very present in exports (50% of its turnover), Savel today wants to strengthen itself in the countries where it is already present in Europe, a little in Asia and the Middle East. “In any case, today, Russia and the United States are dead,” notes the leader.
If the leaders, and undoubtedly their 85 integrated breeders, are keeping an eye on the Mercosur agreement, which is angering farmers, they are not particularly worried about their products. “I think this will especially affect white chicken. For our part, even if inflation has affected the consumption of products like guinea fowl, but also the red label or organic, we are working with large retailers to ensure that they find space on the shelves. »
Diversification of its products
Savel will now strive to return to its 2019 volumes, before covid. The company is present in niche markets, with long-growing poultry: yellow chicken, cockerels, guinea fowl, turkey. These are, for the most part, on a good dynamic.
“80% of our customers are in collective or commercial catering (school, company canteens, etc.). With the takeover of Béziau, we have also expanded our offerings with elaborate products that can be portioned precisely. For a canteen, it is easier to offer a turkey escalope which can be 100 g or 80 g than a guinea fowl leg,” explains Éric Lefeuvre.
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