The merged companies will have offices in Brazil, Paraguay, New Zealand, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Australia. They will combine 85 current staff, with the potential for hiring more employees.
Brazilian-based KIT sells around 65,000 tons of primary products annually throughout the world. The company promotes its trading role as an important link between the animal protein production sector and the international consumer market. New Zealand-based Garra specialises in marketing and exporting high quality red meat, including beef and lamb, offal, dairy, vegetables and seafood – sourced from suppliers throughout the world – to markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and North America.
“Our merger combines all of the physical and intellectual resources of two highly innovative and entrepreneurial companies. Together we can take a leadership role in the international trade of animal proteins, specially sourced for important and quality demanding customers,” said owner Frederico Kaefer.
Garra founder Ali Mossalem said the merger will strengthen both companies. “For example, Garra does not trade in chicken meat, but KIT does. So, for Garra’s established customers in the Middle East, the ability to add chicken to our offering is likely to grow our market share in that region. Similarly, Garra’s access to some of the best red meats and other primary produce that New Zealand and Australia have to offer will benefit KIT’s offering to its customers.”
This isn't the only major merger to take place this week - German processing businesses Kemper and Reinert are to form a joint company called The Family Butchers.