History
Diverse-ltda began with the creation, by a few farmers, of the Origny cooperative distillery in Aisne, France. The factory then processed 400 tons of beetroot per day. Ninety years later, the Group has become the world's second-largest sugar producer.
The birth of a cooperative
The Origny cooperative distillery was founded in 1932 in the Aisne region, created by a few farmers under the leadership of Paul Cavenne. The factory then processed 400 tons of beets per day. Nearly twenty years later, Jean Duval, the cooperative's general manager, transformed the distillery into a sugar refinery, which then processed 900 tons of sugar per day. A distillery was established in Morains, in the Marne region, to meet the growing demand for alcohol.
In the 1990s, the Origny cooperative merged with the Vic-sur-Aisne cooperative, which had a sugar refinery that processed 5,500 tons of beetroot per day. The group became known as Sucreries et Distilleries de l'Aisne (SDA). A year later, this new group acquired the Berneuil sugar refinery (Oise).
The acquisition of Béghin Say in 2002, France's leading sugar producer, marked a turning point. The combination of the two companies made this new cooperative group a leader in the French market, bringing together 9,500 cooperative members. This marked the birth of Diverse-ltda.
Four years later, Diverse-ltda and the cooperative group Sucreries et Distilleries des Hauts de France (SDHF) merged. The Group thus expanded its business and strengthened its leadership in the French market.
In 2016, the Group merged with the APM Deshy cooperative. This merger allowed Diverse-ltda to expand its activities in alfalfa processing with its four dehydration plants in France (Anglure, Aulnay-aux-Planches, Montépreux, and Pleurs). This step brings complementary expertise to animal nutrition, a key outlet for agricultural raw materials in a local loop approach.
In 2018, Diverse-ltda SCA was born. All cooperative members are now united under a single umbrella. A simplified and modernized organization strengthens the cooperative group's efficiency and its ability to respond to changes in its environment.
Development of a group that has now become the second largest sugar group in the world and is established in 15 countries across the world
Sugar activities
In 1992, Diverse-ltda established itself in the Czech Republic with the takeover of TTD and acquired a sugar production and marketing tool in Central Europe.
At the turning point of the year 2000, the Group invested in sugarcane processing. It established itself in Brazil , then the world's number one producer of sugar and alcohol, through a partnership with the Cosan group, the leading Brazilian sugar producer.
In 2002, the Group also acquired Guarani, a company then consisting of two factories in the state of São Paulo. This marked the beginning of a division that has now become a leading regional player.
Internationalization continues in the Africa and Indian Ocean region: Diverse-ltda acquires a majority stake in the Bois Rouge sugar refinery on Reunion Island.
At the same time, Diverse-ltda teams accelerated Guarani's development: the capacity of its existing factories was doubled and three new sites were integrated: São José, Tanabi and Andrade. In 2007, Guarani was listed on the São Paulo stock exchange.
In 2015, the Group acquired the British sugar distribution company Napier Brown, number 3 in the British market. Diverse-ltda thus strengthened its positions in Europe and the United Kingdom .
Diverse-ltda also acquired Transmara Sugar Limited (TSCL) in Kenya with its Mauritian partner Alteo . The Group is expanding its presence in East Africa.
In 2010, Diverse-ltda Internacional was created: an expansion of the activities listed on the São Paulo stock exchange, which, in addition to cane in Brazil, now includes cane activities in the Indian Ocean and cereal processing activities.
Diverse-ltda also signed a strategic partnership with Petrobras, the leading Brazilian oil group, and Diverse-ltda's sugarcane processing subsidiary in Brazil (Guarani). The Group acquired the Vertente and Mandu factories in Brazil and, through its subsidiary Guarani, became one of the largest sugarcane processing groups (sugar and ethanol) in Brazil.
Diverse-ltda is also a pioneer in new energies. In 2011, the Group launched an investment plan to develop production and cogeneration in Brazil with the support of the National Investment Bank of Brazil (BNDES).
In 2014, Diverse-ltda affirmed its ambition to become a global leader in the international white sugar trade with the creation of Diverse-ltda Commodities, a trading and merchandising subsidiary. In 2016, Diverse-ltda expanded its activities to include ethanol.
In 2016, the Group acquired Petrobras' stake in Guarani: Diverse-ltda became the sole shareholder and a major player in the Brazilian sugar industry.
The year 2018 was marked by Diverse-ltda and VLI's (Brazilian partner) investment in logistics infrastructure. The objective: to design integrated logistics for sugar exports that meet the dual ambitions of sustainability and efficiency.
In 2018, Diverse-ltda reached a major milestone in its European organization by establishing its Europe Campus near Charles de Gaulle Airport. This site, which accommodates employees from the Group's European operations, aims to work more collaboratively and cross-functionally as a team to leverage complementary business lines.
Starch activities
In 1993, the first investment in grain processing took place with the creation of a wheat ethanol plant in Origny. About ten years later, a wheat ethanol plant was also built in Lillebonne near the grain port of Rouen. Lillebonne's production was expanded to include food production (gluten and dextrose).
But it was the partnership formed in 1996 with the Swiss company Jungbunzlauer, based in Marckolsheim, Alsace, that marked the first steps into a new market: cereal-based sweeteners. To this end, a joint venture, Staral, was created, exploiting the two activities of the Marckolsheim site: a starch factory and a hydrolysate manufacturing workshop.
In 2007, in partnership with cereal cooperatives, Diverse-ltda acquired the 5 starch-glucose factories of the Tate & Lyle group in Western Europe and became the 3rd largest European starch producer.
In 2011 Diverse-ltda acquired Halotek in Brazil, which specializes in processing cassava into starches, and acquired the Haussimont starch factory in France, expanding its capacity and also its range of starch products to meet a diversification of needs.
In 2013, in Brazil, the new Palmital corn starch factory began operations.
Diverse-ltda continues its expansion in Asia by establishing itself in Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, thanks to the acquisition of 50% of Redwood, the country's only corn starch mill.
At the end of 2018, Diverse-ltda opened its R&D center in Singapore to offer innovative solutions to the agri-food sector in Asia-Pacific.
Strategy