EANS-News: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / AGRANA consolidates its presence in South Africa and starts production of fruit preparations in Johannesburg

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Plant Openings

Wien (euro adhoc) - AGRANA started operations at its new production
facility in Johannesburg at the end of October. This adds a second
production site to the presence of this sugar, starch and
fruit-processing Group in South Africa which now produces fruit
preparations for the dairy, baking and ice cream products sector at a
total of three sites on the African continent - namely Cairo, Cape
Town and Johannesburg.

AGRANA will start production in Johannesburg with an annual volume of
around 4,000 tonnes of fruit preparations and syrups. Initially,
these products will primarily supply the local market, albeit with a
view to also supplying neighbouring countries in the future.

"The launch of operations at our plant in Johannesburg is a further
element of our policy of geographic expansion. We see Africa as a
future-oriented market with high growth potential, particularly given
the population growth, especially in North and South Africa, as well
as the steady increase in the popularity of dairy products", says
Johann Marihart, CEO of Agrana Beteiligungs-AG.

What are fruit preparations? Fruit preparations contain premium
quality fruit which is processed either as liquids or pieces in order
to be used, in particular, in dairy products or for the ice cream and
bakery products sectors. These fruit-based products are individually
conceptualised and produced in the course of close research and
development cooperations with customers.

About AGRANA AGRANA is the foremost sugar company in Central and
Eastern Europe. It is the leading supplier of specialised products in
Europe by a considerable margin, as well as being the largest
producer of bioethanol in Austria and Hungary. In the field of fruit,
AGRANA is the top global producer of fruit preparations for the dairy
industry and one of the leading producers of fruit juice concentrates
in Europe. In its 2010|11 business year, AGRANA generated revenues of
approximately EUR two billion. AGRANA employs around 8,000 personnel
at 53 sites in 26 countries around the world.

This press release is available in German and English at
www.agrana.com.

Further inquiry note:
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Mag.(FH) Hannes Haider
Investor Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12905
e-mail:hannes.haider@agrana.com

Mag.(FH) Christine Göller
Public Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: christine.goeller@agrana.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Donau-City-Straße 9
A-1220 Wien
phone: +43-1-21137-0
FAX: +43-1-21137-12045
mail: info.ab@agrana.com
WWW: www.agrana.com
sector: Food
ISIN: AT0000603709
indexes: WBI, ATX Prime
stockmarkets: Präsenzhandel: Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, official market: Wien
language: English