EANS-News: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / AGRANA expanding in the US: Building a new facility for fruit preparations

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Company Information

Wien (euro adhoc) - The sugar, starch and fruit company AGRANA is
expanding its market presence in North America by constructing a
fruit preparation plant in the Northeastern Region of the US. The
exact location has not yet been fixed. The total investment amounts
to around USD 40 million (= EUR 30 million). Accordingly, from
mid-2014, AGRANA will produce fruit preparations for the dairy,
baking and ice-cream industries at four locations in the United
States.

"Building this new plant represents an important strategic step for
AGRANA in our efforts to consolidate our market leadership in the US
fruit preparation segment over the long term. With the new production
capacity of 45,000 tonnes annually, we are creating the conditions to
achieve this," says AGRANA CEO Johann Marihart. The US market offers
average annual growth of more than six percent - in contrast to the
stagnating European market -, particularly in view of the trend
toward fruit yoghurts containing a high proportion of fruit
preparation. Above all, the new facility will serve as a response to
rising customer demand in Canada and the Northeastern Region of the
US.

AGRANA currently operates three North American production sites in
Botkins|Ohio, Centerville|Tennessee and Fort Worth|Texas and has its
Corporate Offices and NPD Center in Brecksville/Ohio.

Fruit preparations at AGRANA Fruit preparations contain premium
quality fruits which are 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
development cooperation with customers. AGRANA manufactures fruit
preparations at 26 sites worldwide.

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 the leading producer of fruit juice concentrates in
Europe. For the full 2012|13 business year, AGRANA expects Group
revenue of more than EUR 3.0 billion. AGRANA employs around 8,000
personnel at 56 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, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, official market: Wien
language: English