Felix in talks over Fiesta

The Dutch giant of the European peanut market, The Nut Company, is in advanced talks to buy peanut producer Fiesta, sources close to the talks told Ziarul Financiar. The Nut Company, which owns the Felix peanut brand, intends to take over the whole of Flipper Comimpex, a Turkish owned business, in what may be a 6-8 million euro deal. Both parties declined to comment on this issue by the time this story went to press. The Dutch group has been eyeing Fiesta for some time now. The acquisition would also mean entry onto the medium segment of the peanut market. Felix peanuts are classed as premium products. Flipper is one of the top five players on the peanut market in Romania with a market share of around 63%, according to a 2004 survey by the market research company MEMRB. Other well-positioned companies on the market include Alka, Elite and Mogyi. Coffee producer Elite Romania entered the peanut and seed market more than a year ago. ZF