Unifrutti Group, the multinational fruit company owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ, expanded its portfolio in the Peruvian market after acquiring 100% of Agrícola Safco Perú and Global Agro Perú, companies specializing in fruit shipments from Ica. With this acquisition, table grapes become a key component of its strategy to provide a nearly uninterrupted supply to the US market. How will this integration impact Peruvian agriculture?

Unifrutti, a key player in the global fruit trade

The group's history dates back to 1946, when the Italian businessman Guido De Nadai founded a fruit and vegetable trading company in Asmara (Eritrea, located in Africa, then under strong Italian influence).

During the 1960s, De Nadai diversified the business into canned goods, processed fruits, and vegetables across multiple plants, while also strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia. In the late 1970s, the next step was Chile, with the aim of expanding the networks of his family business.

According to Unifrutti Group records, the fertility of Chilean soil and the ambition to supply markets such as the Middle East and Italy were key factors in its consolidation in South America. The Unifrutti brand, as it is known today, was formally established in Chile in 1983.

Following De Nadai's death in 1989, his heirs took over the management of the company. It wasn't until March 2022 that the group was integrated into the Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ, renowned for its track record in the food and agriculture sectors, which then became its majority shareholder.

Today, Unifrutti Group manages more than 16,000 hectares across four continents and distributes more than 300 varieties of fruit in over 50 countries, including grapes and blueberries. It controls the entire chain, from production to packaging, logistics, and distribution. Its enterprise value is estimated at over US$830 million, with a volume of nearly 50 million boxes exported annually.

The impact of its increased presence on Peruvian agricultural exports

Víctor Ballena, coordinator of the Foreign Trade Observatory of the Faculty of Economics at UPC, told Gestión that the recent acquisition of Safco and Global Agro Perú marks a new chapter for Peruvian and transnational agricultural exports, given that our country is gaining relevance as a strategic point in its global supply scheme.

The transaction adds to a series of recent moves. In addition to the purchase of Safco and Global Agro Perú—valued at approximately US$150 million, according to El Financiero—Unifrutti acquired 100% of AvoAmerica Perú and Bomarea in March 2024. blueberry producers and avocados in the north of the country, to the US companies Solum Partners and Alpine Fresh. In January of that same year, it finalized the purchase of Verfrut, one of the largest exporters in Chile and Peru, with more than 7,500 hectares in both territories.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri), Peruvian table grape exports are expected to exceed 760,000 tons by 2025, with a value of over US$1,900 billion and an average price of US$3,27 per kilogram. The grape season, as Ballena mentioned, runs from September or October to April, depending on the region.

“Unifrutti Group is very interested in the Peruvian market. The purchase of Safco allows it to serve a specific period of the grape season, between September and October, which complements its production in Chile and consolidates an almost continuous supply to the United States,” Ballena explained.

In his opinion, the arrival of the group could also help alleviate some bottlenecks in the local agribusiness, especially in logistics, transport and infrastructure.

While Safco is not among the country's largest agricultural exporters, it is estimated to ship around 10,000 tons of table grapes annually, valued at approximately US$29 million. The company owns around 560 hectares of vineyards and has two packing facilities in Ica.

Mohamed Elsarky, CEO of Unifrutti Group, stated that the acquisition in Peru “will integrate Safco’s premium varieties and capabilities to benefit its relationships with retailers and distributors worldwide,” according to the Agraria website.

Along those lines, Ballena anticipates that Unifrutti will arrive not only as an investor, but also as a bearer of knowledge, particularly in negotiations with shipping companies and in post-harvest quality controls, in a context where the country has been strengthening its port infrastructure.

“A multiplier effect can be generated, with improvements in infrastructure such as the port of Paracas, and a faster adoption of technologies in the field and logistics,” he noted.

What to look for from the blueberry and berry industry

For the berry business, the key indicator is the type of strategy being consolidated: asset control, packaging, and logistics to ensure consistent quality and commercial execution within defined timeframes. In a market where arrival condition and program continuity are as important as volume, the advancement of multi-fruit platforms with a presence in Peru can raise the competitive standard, not only for grapes but also for blueberries, when the goal is to supply regularly and meet the increasingly stringent demands of retailers.

Data

– Safco sends premium table grapes to retailers in the United States, with the Cotton Candy, Sweet Globe and Autumn Crisp varieties being the most representative of its offering.

– Benjamín Cillóniz, general manager of Agrícola Safco Perú, told Agraria.pe that the sale to Unifrutti Group represents a leap “into the big leagues.” Currently, the company has “around 2 million boxes to harvest, pack, ship, and collect payment for.”

– According to Provid, the main grape exporting company, towards the first quarter of 2025, was Rapel (7.3 million boxes of 8.2 kg); followed by El Pedregal (6.8 million boxes) and Ecosac (6.3 million boxes).