Brandt Europe, a subsidiary of the US agricultural leader for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and owner of the assets of the former Tragusa since July 1, 2016, presented the balance sheet of its first year of operation and the forecast data for the end of 2017, which will be its first full calendar year since the acquisition. At the end of 2017, Brandt Europe expects to close with a turnover of 20 million euros. This figure exceeds by 11% the 18 million of 2016, in whose first six months it still operated as Tragusa and as Brandt in the year’s second half.
The subsidiary for Europe will grow not only in turnover but also in gross margin (5% above), thanks to the incorporation of products with greater added value, especially in fertilizers, based on the powerful R+D+I of the parent company and manufactured in Spain. Specifically, with American technology, but with the development of its own R&D laboratory, Brandt Europe is manufacturing from its production plant in Carmona 20 new fertilizers, which have diversified the company’s commercial portfolio, previously composed of about 40 phytosanitary products and 10 fertilizers.
The incorporation of these products represents an important qualitative leap in the commercial offer of the company, which worked mainly in the field of generics and now enters the market of specialties, more exclusive products, with a greater technological and innovative load, very little competition in the Spanish market, with greater added value for customers and therefore with a better commercial margin. Likewise, it is a commitment to strengthen the fertilizer business line, whose supply has tripled.
Along with the diversification of the portfolio, the former Tragusa had made another vital leap in foreign sales, which before the purchase by Brandt accounted for approximately 10% of the turnover, and at the end of 2017 will mean double, 20%, accessing new markets such as South Africa, Turkey, Côte d ‘Ivoire, Greece, and Italy, which have joined others in which the company was already. The idea of Brandt is to cover from its European subsidiary the entire market, not only European but also the Middle East and Africa, taking advantage of the manufacturing capacity and development of R&D of the production centre and laboratory of Carmona and its privileged logistical situation. Brandt Europa’s facilities include a customs warehouse inside the facilities themselves, one of the few that exist in Spain outside the free zone.
In its first year after purchasing Tragusa, the multinational has also firmly committed to quality employment and investments in equipment and machinery. Thus, employment has increased the workforce by 20%, from 50 to 60 people, and forming an external technical and commercial network of ten other professionals. The entire management team of the previous stage of Tragusa remains. It has invested close to one million euros in laboratory and production technology, reinforcing the manufacturing capacity of more technologically advanced products. This investment has been shared between a laboratory team and manufacturing technology for process improvement and packaging.
