Saturno acquires Frigorífico Florida
On May 16, the Lequio Group from Argentina and Abasto de Carnes Saturno S.A. announced they had reached a definitive agreement regarding the ownership transfer of the Establecimiento Florida meat plant (#365).
As of that date, Abasto de Carnes Saturno S.A. has assumed the commercial representation of the facility, with a focus on integrating it into its business structure and operations.
Luis Avero, head of Abasto Saturno, is currently in China attending the Sial fair that began yesterday. Speaking with WBR, he said the goal is to establish a livestock sourcing base in the Florida department and consolidate sales locally, while also working international markets.
The plan is to resume operations between “August and September,” once the bureaucratic process of ownership transfer is completed. Initially, livestock purchases will be made with cash payments. Avero stated they will work with “all categories” of animals. Given that this is a strong dairy region where small lots are often available, he noted, “that cattle works for us.” Additionally, Abasto Saturno will continue producing its premium line using heifers with milk teeth or two teeth.
Avero said the plant is “in excellent condition, with an efficient slaughter line, nearly new deboning facilities, and a cold chain capable of handling up to 1,500 head per week—which is our goal within a year and a half or two.”
Frigorífico Florida (Halmon SA) has been inactive since early December last year. In 2024, it slaughtered 12,540 cattle, accounting for 0.56% of national slaughter. It also exported products worth a total of US$ 6.26 million. The main destination was China (US$ 5.26 million, 84% of the total), followed by the Netherlands (US$ 359,000) and Russia (US$ 246,000). Additional exports were made to Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan, and Germany.
In the announcement, the Lequio Group “thanks its staff for their invaluable contributions in helping EST #365 move forward and find a path to continuity and a brighter future for investors and the Florida community.” It added that “the plant’s current state is a far cry from the idle facility acquired in 2023, now with successful export records to China, Europe, and other destinations, and ready to take on new challenges as needed.”
With this transaction, the Lequio Group ends its projects in Uruguay to focus its growth in Argentina, where it operates three plants: EST #2520, #2035, and #2595.
