The policy of strategic acquisitions and alliances with other companies has been another of the factors determining the growth of the SOS Group over the last few years.

The Group’s objective for the last several years has been to complement organic growth with acquisitions that provide synergies and reinforce the Group’s existing market position, thereby improving its competitive position. By adopting this line of approach the Group has managed to double its turnover in three years without altering its business profile.

In strategic terms, we may highlight:

• The consolidation of Minerva Oli S.p.A. in 2005, quadrupling turnover in olive oil.
• In the rice segment, an agreement was reached in 2006 with the Sara Lee Group to acquire the various assets comprising its rice business in the Netherlands including Lassie, the Dutch leading rice brand.
• In olive oil, the acquisition of 100% of Carapelli Firenze S.p.A. in 2006, the leading seller in the Italian market of extra virgin olive oil.
• The acquisition of the brands Bertolli, San Giorgio and Maya from Unilever in 2008 meant that SOS now dominates all the major world markets in the vegetable oil business division.
• The disposal of its biscuit division, headed by the Cuétara brand, to Nutrexpa, and of the confectionary business led by the brand Pictolín at the end of 2008 allowed the company to focus its efforts towards international business areas which belong to the Mediterranean diet and in which it can achieve international leadership, such as olive oil and rice.