Le Groupe, Nos actualités

InVivo, France’s leading agricultural cooperative group, reported strong results in the 2008-2009 financial year and confirmed its growth dynamic in all its activities. Net income group share came to 27.6 million euros, the second best performance recorded since InVivo was founded in 2001.

The InVivo union of agricultural cooperatives reported revenue of 5.1 billion euros in 2008-2009. The Seeds and Agricultural Supplies activity accounted for 31% of revenue, Animal Nutrition and Health 27%, Grain Storage and Trading 34%, and Green Distribution and Services 8%. Net income group share came to 27.6 million euros.

Returns paid out to cooperatives before the end of the financial year rose 22% to 46.7 million euros. This total, which has nearly doubled in five years, was linked to the level of activity achieved by the cooperatives with InVivo Union in its purchasing and referencing centre activities, particularly in plant protection and green distribution (Gamm vert). Improving financial returns for the cooperatives is one of InVivo’s key commitments.

The combined total of net income group share and returns distributed to the cooperatives – a figure that represents the global collective efficiency of the InVivo network – is the highest since the Union was founded in 2001, at nearly 75 million euros.

Seeds and Agricultural Supplies revenue rose 4% to 1.55 billion euros, a result notably of the broadened scope of partner cooperatives working alongside InVivo in plant protection. Teams working in these fields have rallied around the challenges set by France’s Grenelle Environment Forum. The successful deployment of decision-making tools in fertilisation and crop protection, especially Epiclès and Phytnès, is a distinct advantage in implementing sustainable and productive agriculture. R&D investments have been refocused to find solutions for meeting the objectives of Ecophyto 2018. Likewise, by producing 21 indicators on water quality, soil fertility and erosion, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity, we will now be able to measure the environmental impact of farming practices.

The key event in the 2008-2009 year was the creation of InVivo NSA (Animal Health and Nutrition), operational from 1 January 2010. Born from the merger of Evialis’ animal nutrition and health businesses with those of InVivo, the new company aims to rank among the world leaders in animal nutrition. The three business lines – complete feeds, premix and specialties, animal hygiene and health – account respectively for 68%, 24% and 8% of revenue, 40% of which is generated internationally.

Amid extremely difficult conditions in animal production, the 14% increase in InVivo NSA revenue (totalling 1.38 billion euros) can be attributed mainly to the external growth operations in Mexico and Brazil. The main priority in France is still on structuring and optimising the production base for cattle feed. Internationally, InVivo NSA is pursuing a rational development strategy in countries with fast-growing animal nutrition markets.
Worldwide, InVivo NSA relies on its R&D resources and innovative ability to bring partners and customers the differentiation and solutions they expect. The 2008-2009 year will nevertheless be marked by the deterioration in Evialis’ results, mainly due to non-recurring economic factors.

The international Grain Storage and Trading activity put in a very strong performance despite a 19% fall in revenues, stemming entirely from the drop in cereal prices. Greater price volatility led to growing interest in storage capacities and joint sales approaches. With a 9% increase in activity, InVivo Stockage is the only nationwide storage entity in France, managing more than 1.2 million tonnes of capacity at nine silos.

InVivo Markets sold more than 6.5 million tonnes of cereals and oilseed in 2008-2009. Aiming to ensure permanent French presence in cereal export markets, it set up operations in Hungary in September 2009. The creation of the InVivo Trading company in the country will not only help to improve knowledge of competing markets in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region; it will also, with the cooperatives involved, strengthen the third country export positioning of InVivo in the Mediterranean basin.

The export role of the Sigma Terme subsidiary has further intensified with an increase of more than 80% in negotiated and cleared contracts and a considerable development in services proposed for managing risk linked to prices and financial products.

In green distribution and services, InVivo reported revenue of 415 million euros, for a slight rise of 0.3%. Gamm vert SA, the main component in this activity, confirmed its vitality with revenue of 337 million euros. Brand recognition is on the rise and the network continues to grow, with 64 openings in the 2008-2009 year. The implementation of sales plans has improved outlet profitability. With 855 shops, Gamm vert has become the number one garden centre network in France in terms of revenue and number of sales outlets. Gamm vert had three main priorities in 2008-2009: strengthening network cohesion, bringing more clarity to its image and raising the professional standards of employees.

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