Standard Investment has reached an agreement with Cibus Capital, as adviser to the Cibus funds, on the sale of Aweta, a global leader in fruit and vegetable sorting, grading and packing equipment. Completion of the transaction is expected in the coming weeks.
For more than 60 years, Aweta has designed, assembled and serviced fruit and vegetable sorting, grading and packing equipment. The company holds a leading position in the greenhouse vegetable market, particularly for cucumbers and peppers. Headquartered in Pijnacker, the Netherlands, and with teams in Italy and the USA, Aweta’s technology is critical to the value chain: it enables growers and packhouses to optimise yield, reduce waste and meet the exact quality standards demanded by modern retailers and consumers. With EUR 85 million in annual revenue and more than 250 employees, Aweta’s systems are deployed across an extensive installed base in more than 50 countries.
Filipe Oliveira da Silva, CEO of Aweta, said: “This is an exciting phase for Aweta. After several years of a fabulous cooperation with Standard Investment, we now look forward to working together with such a reputable partner as Cibus to continue to grow the company. This partnership will allow us to deliver value-add to all our customers by speeding our innovation and technological long-term ambitions.”
Cibus Fund II is a sustainable food and agriculture investment fund advised by Cibus Capital, a London-based firm founded in 2016. The fund invests at the intersection of technology, food and agriculture, backing businesses that create impact through differentiated products and capabilities that build sustainable competitive advantage and make value chains more resilient.
For Cibus, Aweta is a familiar name. One of Cibus Fund II’s portfolio companies is an Aweta customer and the red Aweta machines have been running in its sorting and packing facilities for years. That first-hand experience, together with Aweta’s technology leadership, differentiated product portfolio, extensive installed base, growing aftermarket potential and mission-critical role in fruit and vegetable operations, aligns closely with Cibus Fund II’s investment themes.
Rob Appleby, CIO at Cibus Capital, said: “Labour scarcity is one of the defining challenges in global food and agriculture, putting real pressure on producers already operating on thin margins. Aweta is a leading provider of automated sorting and packing solutions. Partnering with them allows us to help customers raise productivity across the supply chain without compromising jobs that require human judgement and care. With this transaction, we now back six robotics and automation businesses that are quietly reshaping how food is produced and we see Aweta as a key piece in the puzzle.”
Standard Investment has been a shareholder of Aweta since 2013. Over that period, the focus has been on operational excellence and innovation. Working closely with the management team, Standard Investment supported the operational streamlining, invested in the product portfolio and expanded Aweta’s international footprint, with particularly strong growth in the United States, Canada, Europe and South America, resulting in very strong bottom line development. Aweta enters this next phase as one of the top three players in its market globally.
Under Cibus Fund II’s ownership, Aweta will pursue further international growth and accelerate investment in R&D, supporting the installed base and product innovation, including software and AI capabilities. Aweta’s leadership team will continue to lead the business through its next phase of growth.
Guido Grobbink, Partner at Standard Investment, said: “Following a successful period of ownership, we are proud to hand Aweta over to Cibus, who we believe is the right partner to support the company’s next phase of growth. Through Standard Investment’s hands-on approach, together with management, we have strengthened the organisation and built a robust platform ready to scale. We are confident that Cibus will build on this foundation and leverage its deep industry expertise to take Aweta to the next level.”
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About Aweta
Aweta has been designing, assembling and servicing fruit and vegetable sorting, grading and packing equipment for more than 60 years. From its headquarters in Pijnacker, the Netherlands, the company serves growers, packhouses and cooperatives worldwide, with an installed base in more than 50 countries. Aweta generates EUR 85 million in annual revenue and employs more than 250 people.
About Cibus Capital
Cibus Capital LLP is a London-based sustainable food and agriculture investment firm advising over USD 1 billion. Founded in 2016, Cibus focuses on the intersection of technology, food and agriculture. The Cibus funds invest in businesses that create impact through differentiated products, technologies and capabilities that drive sustainable competitive advantages and make value chains more resilient.
About Standard Investment
Standard Investment is a Dutch investment firm founded in 2004, focused on hands-on investments in Northwest Europe. With offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Madrid, Standard Investment operates on the philosophy that direct involvement with portfolio companies delivers the best results. Its team of investment professionals manages a portfolio of 24 companies with more than 4,500 employees and EUR 1.5 billion in revenue, including juice producer Riedel, steel construction company Hollandia and offshore access specialist Ampelmann.
Legal References and Disclaimer:
References herein to “Cibus Fund II” or “Cibus” are references to Cibus Fund II LP managed by Cibus Investments II Limited and advised by Cibus Capital LLP. References to “Cibus Capital” are to Cibus Capital LLP. Those members, consultants and employees of Cibus Capital LLP who are involved in advising Cibus are referred to as the “Cibus Team”. None of Cibus, Cibus Investments Limited, Cibus Investments II Limited or Cibus Capital LLP makes any representation as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this Press Release. This release does not constitute an offer to subscribe for interests in the Cibus funds or any other actual or prospective fund advised by Cibus Capital LLP.