22 | Pg | success stories Kagome Foods Portugal A diversified offer with tomato in the spotlight Kagome Foods Portugal, which operates two industrial units in the country and exports to over 30 markets, has been part of the Japanese Kagome Group since 2012. This integration brought new challenges, higher standards, and internal changes. The company has strengthened its commitment to value-added products, whose sales grew by 48 per cent in 2024. Its offering is increasingly diverse but remains centred on the flavour of Portuguese tomatoes. The entry of the Japanese Kagome Group into Portugal in 2012 marked a turning point in the internationalisation of Portuguese tomatoes. The story began back in the 1990s with the creation of Italagro, following Parmalat’s ac- quisition of the former ECRIL. The ambition to grow led, in 1999, to the integration of the historic FIT – Fomento da Indústria de Tomate, which had been operating since 1957. The merger of the two companies in 2007 gave rise to the HIT Group, with a mission focused on developing innovative processes to enhance the natural components of the tomato. Today, the group exports 97 percent of its pro- duction to more than 30 countries. "The main markets continue to be the United Kingdom and Japan", but Marta Bento, Sales and Mar- keting Manager of Group Hit, also highlight- ing the importance of the Eurozone, Northern Europe, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Only 3 per cent of production remains on the domestic market.
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