Ouvrard Nouts and Maison Leroy wanted to diversify their product range by taking over Agi-Serre in May 2023. Specializing in greenhouse tomato and cucumber cultivation, Agi-Serre, based in La Flèche, Sarthe, produces some 4,000 tons of vegetables a year (3,000 tons of tomatoes and 1,000 tons of cucumbers). This joint acquisition was no accident, as the two companies had already been working together for a decade. Thomas Ouvrard, Managing Director of Ouvrard Nouts, explains the reasons for the takeover and outlines the plans for this new project.
Cucumbers and tomatoes are sold under the "Saveur de la Sarthe" brand to supermarkets (60%), retail wholesalers (25%), and export markets.
"Greater diversity in our respective offers"
"The idea was for several of us to join forces to buy the farm so that we could offer a wider range of products," explains Thomas Ouvrard. Initially, the two entities each had their specialties: poultry, cereals, and asparagus for Ouvrard Nouts and arboriculture for Maison Leroy. With this new chapter, the two partners have set their sights on local markets. "Our aim today is to reposition ourselves on the local market and even to target the Ile-de-France region while producing on a larger scale for each of our products."
Ouvrard Nouts and Maison Leroy are already committed to sustainable production and intend to continue along this path. Agi-Serre has its own CHP unit for heating and generating electricity. Also, irrigation water is recovered and reused in the network.
Future projects
Agi-Serre's new management team sees the bigger picture. In the long term, the two managers do not rule out the possibility of further expanding their business by pushing diversification. "We are looking for other growers to join the adventure and take advantage of our commercial system to consolidate our production and sales force."
For more information:
Agi-Serre
Les Rosiers, Bd de l'Europe
72200 La Flèche
Tel.: 02 43 94 08 06