The Bel Group and the Polish Polmlek announced on Wednesday that they had signed an agreement to sell Bel’s stake in Safilait, as well as the Tarmast farm which supplies Safilait. “Bel is a leader in the Moroccan market, where the Group has been present for five decades and where it has strong brands and positions (including La Vache qui rit, les Enfants, and Kiri),” recalls a joint press releasenoting that “Morocco is a key market for Bel, in which the group has increased its investments and will continue to invest, in particular in its plant in Tangier”.
In 2015, the group expanded its offer in Morocco by acquiring Safilait, a dairy company specializing in the processing, packaging and sale of fresh milk, UHT milk and fresh dairy products. Since then, the Bel Group has supported Safilait in the development of its products and activities – including well-known local brands such as Jibal – and has continued to invest in the company’s Moroccan production site, the same source indicates. Safilait is today the third local dairy player. Given its international ambition and strong expertise in the fresh dairy products segment, Polmlek intends to continue the development and growth of Safilait.
“The transaction will be effective following regulatory and competition approval. It should be finalized in the second half of 2022.”
According to our sources, the Bel group has been trying for several months to sell Safilait. “Several consultations” would have taken place, in particular with the multinational Lactalis. The sale of Safilait to the Polish Polmlek is the first major Polish acquisition in Morocco, so several Polish companies are eyeing the kingdom.