Spain: Ebro Foods increases rice and pasta production due to COVID-19
The Spanish juggernaut Ebro Foods has reinforced the activity of its factories by increasing rice and pasta production “to meet the growing demand” of its customers due to the coronavirus crisis.
More specifically, in the last two weeks the leading company in the Spanish food industry has increased its production activity, both in its factories in Western Europe and in the US, after having detected a consumer purchase rise of these two products.
Product stockpile
According to a company spokeman, its customers around the world have been stockpiling in order to be prepared for possible contagion and, thus, for the possibility of having to quarantine at their homes. “To meet this demand increase we have raised our production by 15 to 25% in Italy, France, the US, Germany, the UK and Spain”.
At the same time, Ebro Foods acknowledged it has no problem in finding raw material to make this increase in production possible, nor did it perceived any increase in prices from its suppliers.
For the time being, it is the only food industry in Spain, which has perceived an increase in demand from its customers. Neither the distribution organizations (Asedas and Anged) nor the main supermarket chains –Mercadona, Carrefour, Dia and Alcampo- have detected “changes in consumer habits due to the epidemic”.
More than 140 millions
Ebro Foods is the world leader in rice and ranks second in pasta. In 2019, its sales were €2.8 billion (+7.6%) and its net profit €142 million, similar to the previous year.
With 70 brands, it is present in 84 countries in Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. In the Netherlands, it owns Lassie and Herba Ingredients, in Wormer.
Source: Expansión