Avril Group

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Avril Group is a French, international agro-industrial company focused on food, animal feed, energy, and sustainable chemistry. It was created in 1983 to support French oilseeds and protein crops and started as Sofiprotéol, a financial vehicle for farmers. In 2015 it restructured as a limited partnership with shares (SCA) and adopted the name Avril.

Based in Paris, Avril operates in 19 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia and employs about 7,350 people. In 2021 the group reported revenues around €6.9 billion. Its activities cover the entire value chain from growing seeds to processing them into edible oils and other products, plus bio-based chemistry and animal nutrition. Key brands include Lesieur, Puget, Diester, Matines (France), Bunica (Romania), Taous, and El Kef (Morocco). Major subsidiaries include Saipol, Expur, Kerfoot, Lecico, and Costa d’Oro. Avril is a leading producer of edible oils in France, Morocco, and Romania, and a top European producer of biodiesel under the Diester brand.

Avril’s ventures span several sectors:
- Food and nutrition: edible oils, oilseed meals for animal feed, eggs under Matines, and related products.
- Renewable chemistry and energy: oleochemistry (bio-based chemicals from vegetable oils) and biodiesel.
- Plant-based innovations: investments in renewable chemistry, protein extraction, and sustainable farming.

The group has driven its growth through strategic acquisitions (such as Lesieur and Puget in the mid-2000s, Costa d’Oro in 2018, and others), expanding its processing capacity and international footprint. It also supports research and development in biofuels and plant chemistry through initiatives like Institute PIVERT and various partnerships.

Avril emphasizes supporting farmers and maintaining a strong French and European supply chain. A foundation linked to the group receives a portion of dividends to fund sustainable development projects. In recent years, Avril has renewed its focus on plant-based activities, selling some biosafety and egg/pork assets to sharpen its agricultural and plant-processing focus.