The Institut Català de Finances (ICF) has provided financing to Amsafresh to drive the modernisation, digitalisation and optimisation of the production system at its facilities in Amposta, in the county of Montsià.

The family-owned company, which produces, markets and exports citrus fruit, currently works with different technologies on a single production line, with machinery that in some cases is up to 30 years old.

With the support of the public promotional bank, Amsafresh will renew one of its production lines with new weighers, automatic case packers, frames and conveyor belts, which will reduce errors in fruit packing and lower energy and maintenance costs.

The aim of the project is to implement a more efficient, flexible and competitive production model which, according to the company's own estimates, will mean a 30% increase in its production capacity.

ICF has financed the investment through two operations: an ICF EcoVerda InvestEU loan and an advance on a grant from the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN).

ICF EcoVerda InvestEU loans are backed by a guarantee from the European Investment Fund (EIF), with the support of the EU through the InvestEU programme, aimed at improving access to financing on favourable terms for sustainable investments in Catalonia, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable mobility and water-saving projects, among others.

“Through operations like this one, ICF strengthens its commitment to supporting Catalan companies in their strategic investments. The agri-food industry is a key sector for the Catalan economy and for territorial cohesion and, as a public promotional bank, we want to help channel resources on favourable terms to deep-rooted family businesses that are committed to modernising,” said Vanessa Servera, CEO of ICF.

Amsafresh's facilities in Amposta cover a total of 11,000 m², of which 6,700 m² correspond to the industrial building, which also houses the offices. The company, whose origins date back to 1961, manages 500 hectares of crops, including its own land and that of the more than 100 farmers it works with, and markets over 30 million kilos of fruit a year.