French Seed Potato Company Germicopa acquired by Florimond Desprez Group

Florimond Desprez, an independent family‐owned company, has acquired Germicopa, the leading French potato seed company and world leader in firm flesh potato varieties.

Germicopa, whose head office is located in Quimper (Finistère), employs 65 people and generates annual sales of EUR 38 million.

Each year the company produces 80,000 tons of seeds, on a contractual basis with 170 farmers, from its production units in Brittany and Nord‐Pas de Calais.

The Châteauneuf‐du‐Faou research centre (Finistère) enables Germicopa to offer an extensive range of 50 varieties for all relevant market segments: eating potatoes (early, main crop, storing), processed foods (chips, crisps, purée), industry (starch), garden, export. Half of its production is exported to 55 countries.

Germicopa has developed a "varietal" marketing approach designed to meet new requirements of firm flesh potato consumers, notably with the Charlotte variety and more recently Princesse Amandine®.

For Eric Bargy, Germicopa's CEO, "the disposal of 100% of Germicopa operations to Florimond Desprez enables our business to prosper supported by a strong company, for assured stability and sustainability."

François Desprez, Chairman and CEO of Florimond Desprez, sees the "acquisition of Germicopa as a real opportunity for diversification. The Florimond Desprez Group will give Germicopa access to more extensive research tools, as well as entry to its network of subsidiaries enabling it to consolidate its international development in an expanding market."