French food and beverage powerhouse Agrial has announced the promotion of Julien Heillaut to the position of CEO, effective July 1.
Heillaut succeeds Ludovic Spiers, who will retire after an impressive tenure of over 35 years with the co-operative.
Under Spiers’ leadership since 2010, Agrial has expanded significantly, housing well-known brands such as Florette salad and Breizh Cola soft drinks.
Heillaut, who joined Agrial in 2018 from Labeyrine Fine Foods, has been at the forefront of the company’s vegetables division since 2020.
Agrial boasts more than 100 production facilities across ten countries. The company effectively manages a diverse portfolio of over 900 products across five divisions.
The product offerings include dairy, fresh produce, meat, and beverages, highlighting Agrial’s commitment to quality and variety.
Agrial’s operations are supported by a farming membership of 12,500 and a dedicated workforce of 22,000 employees.
In addition to Florette, Agrial’s impressive food portfolio features well-known brands like Soignon cheese and Maitre Jacques meat products. Additionally, its beverage business includes popular labels such as Loïc Raison cider.
For the fiscal year 2023, Agrial experienced a 3.7% sales increase, achieving revenues of €7.4 billion ($7.83 billion). Furthermore, the company reported an EBITDA of €239 million.
During the announcement of these results in June, Spiers stated, “The performance in 2023 is further proof of Agrial’s resilience, capable of adapting with agility in the face of growing uncertainties and hazards in the economic and agricultural context, accentuated by geopolitical tensions and climatic disturbances.”
