Benamor Group Launches into Industrial Baking
18 December 2013
Read by 2209 persons
A great example of a public-private, national and international partnership, just finalized by the Amor Benamor agri-food group through its project to build three industrial bread production lines in the public group Eriad complex in Corso, in the wilaya of Boumerdès.
Stopped since 2003 because of the earthquake that struck the region, the complex will restart thanks to its takeover by the Amor Benamor group at 60%. Technically, the same group called on the expertise of the French company Mecatherm, a manufacturer of machines and automated production lines for bakery products. During a press conference held Monday evening in Algiers in the presence of Nicole Bricq, French Minister of Foreign Trade, Mohamed Laid Benamor, CEO of the Benamor group, said that his choice fell on this partner because "the technical qualities of Mecatherm equipment meet the needs of this project".
A project that should be launched next February since "the installation of the machines is already complete and only the automation phase remains to allow the start of production", further explained Mr. Benamor. The three production lines (two premium bread lines and one special bread line) will ensure a production volume of no less than 480,000 baguettes per day (150 t), or 1% of the national bread market, whose consumption reaches 49 million baguettes/day. Having required an investment of 112 million euros, this project will generate 700 direct jobs. The complex will also include two mills for the production of flour, semolina and couscous, as well as a pasta unit and a biscuit factory.
Spaces are also planned for the construction of storage silos, in place of those destroyed by the earthquake. The site will also house convivial spaces where the public will be invited to tasting sessions, but also to discover all the other products manufactured by the complex.
Product Diversification
Indeed, the Benamor group, which wants to expand its activities and diversify its product range, plans to launch into the manufacture of non-cereal agri-food products such as chocolate, fruit and vegetable pulps, sauces and ready-made meals. For his part, Olivier Sergent, General Manager of Mecatherm, indicated, during the presentation of the project, that his group is committed to supplying the equipment ordered for the complex, but also to "providing its personnel with all the know-how and skills necessary for operating the production lines".
The same official announced that the creation of a bakery techniques apprenticeship school is also planned. Majority-owned by Wendel, Mecatherm has a turnover of around 100 million euros, 300 employees and 500 production lines in operation worldwide, including in Africa (Ivory Coast, Nigeria, DR Congo, Tunisia, Guinea). Based in Strasbourg, the group generates 80% of its revenue from exports. For her part, the French Minister of Foreign Trade, who did not hide her amazement at the ambitions of the Benamor group, said she was pleased to see such a partnership project materialize between two leaders in the Algerian and French markets.
"This is a group that shows its willingness to diversify its products and export them, which places it in a logic where both the French and Algerian parties benefit", she declared on the sidelines of the meeting. "This alliance between Benamor and Mecatherm can be described as a constructive partnership that the two Prime Ministers spoke about today", she concluded.
Lyès Mechti.
Elwatan.com
Published on December 18, 2013.
Online since December 18, 2013.
Stopped since 2003 because of the earthquake that struck the region, the complex will restart thanks to its takeover by the Amor Benamor group at 60%. Technically, the same group called on the expertise of the French company Mecatherm, a manufacturer of machines and automated production lines for bakery products. During a press conference held Monday evening in Algiers in the presence of Nicole Bricq, French Minister of Foreign Trade, Mohamed Laid Benamor, CEO of the Benamor group, said that his choice fell on this partner because "the technical qualities of Mecatherm equipment meet the needs of this project".
A project that should be launched next February since "the installation of the machines is already complete and only the automation phase remains to allow the start of production", further explained Mr. Benamor. The three production lines (two premium bread lines and one special bread line) will ensure a production volume of no less than 480,000 baguettes per day (150 t), or 1% of the national bread market, whose consumption reaches 49 million baguettes/day. Having required an investment of 112 million euros, this project will generate 700 direct jobs. The complex will also include two mills for the production of flour, semolina and couscous, as well as a pasta unit and a biscuit factory.
Spaces are also planned for the construction of storage silos, in place of those destroyed by the earthquake. The site will also house convivial spaces where the public will be invited to tasting sessions, but also to discover all the other products manufactured by the complex.
Product Diversification
Indeed, the Benamor group, which wants to expand its activities and diversify its product range, plans to launch into the manufacture of non-cereal agri-food products such as chocolate, fruit and vegetable pulps, sauces and ready-made meals. For his part, Olivier Sergent, General Manager of Mecatherm, indicated, during the presentation of the project, that his group is committed to supplying the equipment ordered for the complex, but also to "providing its personnel with all the know-how and skills necessary for operating the production lines".
The same official announced that the creation of a bakery techniques apprenticeship school is also planned. Majority-owned by Wendel, Mecatherm has a turnover of around 100 million euros, 300 employees and 500 production lines in operation worldwide, including in Africa (Ivory Coast, Nigeria, DR Congo, Tunisia, Guinea). Based in Strasbourg, the group generates 80% of its revenue from exports. For her part, the French Minister of Foreign Trade, who did not hide her amazement at the ambitions of the Benamor group, said she was pleased to see such a partnership project materialize between two leaders in the Algerian and French markets.
"This is a group that shows its willingness to diversify its products and export them, which places it in a logic where both the French and Algerian parties benefit", she declared on the sidelines of the meeting. "This alliance between Benamor and Mecatherm can be described as a constructive partnership that the two Prime Ministers spoke about today", she concluded.
Lyès Mechti.
Elwatan.com
Published on December 18, 2013.
Online since December 18, 2013.
