Scott & Co expands into fresh produce with acquisition of Proxifresh
Proxifresh has built a strong reputation for distributing fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, dairy products, and fine grocery items.
MAURITIUS – Scott & Co Ltd, a leading Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) distributor with over 190 years of operational heritage, has acquired 100% of Proxifresh, a Mauritian specialist in fresh and gourmet food distribution.
The acquisition marks Scott’s strategic entry into the fresh produce segment, which was previously absent from its portfolio.
Matthew Taylor, CEO of Scott, said: “The fresh segment has become essential for our clients. Proxifresh brings solid expertise and great agility. Together, we can now offer a more complete and efficient offering better adapted to the expectations of the Mauritian market.”
To begin with, Proxifresh has built a strong reputation for distributing fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, dairy products, and fine grocery items. The company has over 5,000 product references and employs more than 200 staff, serving hotels, restaurants, retailers, and wholesalers across the island.
Beyond Mauritius, Proxifresh operates a horticultural export business in Rwanda, specializing in premium French beans for the European market, particularly France.
The company supplies 14 to 18 tonnes of French beans per week via a hybrid production model that combines centrally managed plots with a network of contracted smallholder farmers. This diversification across agro-climatic zones ensures a year-round supply and mitigates climate-related production risks.
Under the acquisition terms, Proxifresh will retain its brand identity, employees, operational sites, customer relationships, and supplier contracts. Yan Mayer will remain CEO of Proxifresh until the end of June 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
In addition, Proxifresh will gain access to Scott’s expanded logistics network, more robust systems, and digital distribution platforms, creating concrete growth opportunities and market share gains.
For Proxifresh’s existing customers in the hospitality and food service sectors, service continuity and quality will remain unchanged in the short term.
The acquisition comes as Mauritius’s food market evolves rapidly, with demand for fresh, high-quality produce rising in response to consumer expectations and the development of the island’s tourism sector.
By integrating Proxifresh’s perishables expertise with Scott’s distribution scale, the combined entity is well placed to capture a larger share of the rapidly growing fresh-food segment.
This acquisition serves as a blueprint for strategic consolidation across African fresh-produce supply chains, where scale, logistics integration, and digital platforms are becoming essential competitive advantages.
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