Croatia’s Badel 1862 acquires Agrolaguna, Vinarija Novigrad from Fortenova

Eszter Racz

Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 6:01 AM 3 min read

Croatian alcoholic drinks group Badel 1862, has struck a deal to acquire 100% of shares in local wine, cheese and olive oil maker Agrolaguna and winery Vinarija Novigrad from Fortenova Group.

Financial details of the transaction were undisclosed.

In a statement, Fortenova said acquiring ownership of Agrolaguna would "strengthen [Badel 1862’s ] leadership position in the production of quality and premium wines on the Croatian market”.

The transaction is the next step in the business’s strategy of developing and extending its operations in the premium alcoholic section, added the Zagreb-based food business.

Darko Knez, president of the management board of Badel 1862 said: “Badel 1862 is the leading Croatian company in the production of spirits and wines, that’s why the acquisition of Agrolaguna is a logical step in materialising our development plans and a strong incentive for the additional strengthening of the domestic production.

"Having recognised the valuable achievements of Agrolaguna in the past, the high quality of its products as well as the knowledge and commitment of its employees, we believe that together we can open up a new chapter in the development of both companies.”

Badel 1862 already owns vineyards and premium wine brands in the Dalmatia region of the country and in continental Croatia.

Fortenova said, the step makes Badel the only company in Croatia “with a portfolio covering all the key wine regions”.

The deal also bolsters the business’s market position, it said, and adds new opportunities to grow its wine production. Following the deal, Badel will be the “largest producer of wine grape varieties [in Croatia] with a total of 800 hectares of vineyards and increases its wine production volumes from 2.5m to 6.5m litres.”

Fortenova said the move to divest Agrolaguna was part of its strategy to focus on retail and food processing. The subsidiary, it added, is engaged in "agricultural activities", which Fortenova no longer has ties with, following the sale of its agricultural division to Podravka announced last July.

Commenting on the latest deal with Badel, Fabris Peruško, CEO of Fortenova said: “Badel 1862 is a partner that, given their experience in the industry, can secure the further development of Agrolaguna, the strengthening of its market positions and values and the preservation of jobs.”

“Agrolaguna comes with a strong portfolio of brands that preserve the Istrian heritage and traditions, and their global quality has been acknowledged by numerous international and local awards. We believe that this transaction will provide for the development of new products that will additionally promote Croatian brands on the global scene.”