December 13, 2013

Groupe Grimaud acquires assets of GALOR

Groupe Grimaud has acquired the assets of GALOR, the French leader in guinea fowl genetics and multiplication, which was previously owned by Groupe Amice-Soquet.

GALOR now becomes the branch of Groupe Grimaud specialised in guinea fowl alongside all the other specialised subsidiaries of the group: Hubbard for broilers, Novogen for layers, Grimaud Frères Sélection for waterfowls and pigeons, Choice Genetics for swine, Hypharm for rabbits, and Blue Genetics for shrimps.

All the existing guinea fowl activities of Groupe Grimaud will rapidly be regrouped within GALOR. This will in particular include 'ESSOR', the guinea fowl strains currently owned by Grimaud Frères Sélection. GALOR will operate out of three French sites, its two original locations of Amboise and Souvigny complemented by Grimaud Frères Sélection's former guinea fowl selection centre located in La Rivrais. This will ensure the continuity of the selection programme under the leadership of GALOR which will now offer the GALOR as well as the ESSOR products to guinea fowl production industry.

Enrique Pellejero, who recently joined Groupe Grimaud, will become chief executive officer (CEO) of GALOR and will be based in Amboise. Frédéric Grimaud said, "I am very pleased with the completion of this acquisition which fits well in the development strategy of our group by complementing our multi-species offer. We are now able to streamline our guinea fowl activity and, most importantly, to ensure the continued development of the GALOR and ESSOR lines for this 'small industry' of quality products."

Pellejero added "It is with great enthusiasm that I take the responsibility over GALOR, one of the most representative companies of the French avian industry. Guinea fowl is a fascinating species and a quality product that has a place of its own in the poultry industry. I am fully aware of our responsibility in developing and sustaining a solid selection programme that will ensure the competitiveness of our product overtime."

GALOR, a French leader in guinea fowl genetics and multiplication, raked in €6.5 million (US$8.9 million) in annual revenues (including the ESSOR strains) and two lines of products sold under the brands GALOR and ESSOR.

Groupe Grimaud focuses on animal genetic selection and biopharmacy and the second group in the world for multi-species animal genetic selection. It has €300 million (US$413 million) in annual revenues in over 100 countries.