Döhler reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Zumos Catalano Aragoneses (Zucasa), a Spanish producer of juices, purees and sweet fruit concentrates.

Immediately, Döhler will manage Zucasa's juice production unit, located in the region of Huesca, Spain, through its subsidiary Döhler Fraga.

Zucasa started production in 2010 with three fruit and vegetable processing lines: two for purees and one for juices. Currently, it employs about 50 people in permanent contracts, reaching 150 workers during the high season.

Döhler said the deal marks a "big step forward" in one of Europe's largest fruit production areas, adding that its customers will benefit from a more diversified offer in the stone fruit segment as well as in apples and pears .

In a statement, Döhler said: "Zucasa's extensive expertise and ability to provide juices, purees and fruit and vegetable concentrates for food and beverages, combined with the broad product portfolio and comprehensive industry knowledge of the Döhler Group, will synergies. "

Headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, Döhler operates in more than 130 countries and has more than 40 production sites worldwide.

In October last year, the company acquired a majority stake in Italian firm Nutrafood in an initiative to boost its supply of vegetable-based foods and beverages.

Döhler's fruit and vegetable ingredient product manager Julian Bopp revealed how the company created a concept of fruit and vegetable juice that combines orange juice with zucchini.

Bopp explained that zucchini allows its customers to reduce the sugar content of their beverages by customizing the level of the vegetable in their products to meet their flavor needs and calorie reduction goals.