Fiske Food Ingredients and Avebe sign distribution agreement

The agreement covers a wide range of food products for the Benelux countries. 17/10/2003 Fiske Benelux, a Univar company and leading specialist distributor of food and beverage ingredients, has signed a distribution agreement for the Benelux countries with the Dutch farming co-operative, Avebe. The distribution agreement covers Avebe's range of products for the food industries and is effective from 1 October 2003. The Avebe co-operative represents 5,000 farmers and is the world's largest manufacturer of potato starch and potato starch derivatives, producing 800,000 tonnes of starch annually from four million tonnes of potatoes. It is also a leading producer of tapioca starch and derivatives. Its product portfolio and leadership position fits perfectly with our strategy of being a customer-focused, committed and innovative partner for the Benelux food industry." Fiske Benelux will be providing full technical support and back-up for the Avebe range of products and food industry ingredients, which includes potato starches and derivatives, waxy maize derivatives, maltodextrins, dextrins and dextroses. Included in the Fiske support services is a new application lab at its Brussels headquarters where food technologists are able to carry out concept development work and specific projects for customers. Fiske is the dedicated natural and synthetic ingredients division for the food and beverage industries of Univar NV, the world's leading independent chemical distributor. Fiske has state-of-the-art ingredient warehousing and product handling facilities throughout Europe. In addition it offers a full range of services to supplement customers' own resources, carrying out development work and specific projects. Adapted to individual needs and local conditions, Fiske gives the support that delivers optimized ingredient and commercial solutions. Univar operates a network of 195 distribution centres, spread across the United States, Canada and 14 European countries. In 2001, Univar generated net sales of EUR 4.8 billion and group operating income (including income from equity participations) of EUR 81.6 million. Univar has approximately 7,000 employees based throughout North America and Europe. The company is headquartered in The Netherlands, with North American offices in Bellevue, Washington. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------