This transaction consolidates the Group’s leading role in the segment of corn-based ingredients, adding value through an integrated supply chain, from seed to product, and accelerating its development at global level.
Camisano Vicentino (Vicenza), 21 January 2026 – Cereal Docks, a leading Italian industrial group in the primary processing of agri-food raw materials for ingredients derived from oilseeds and cereals, announces the signing of an investment agreement for the acquisition of 70% of Quality Corn, a Spanish group and European leader in corn processing for the food industry. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of January.
This initiative aligns fully with the Industrial Plan 2025-2028 of Cereal Docks, which also envisages growth through mergers and acquisitions, in order to expand its product portfolio in the food ingredients segment. This involves paying particular attention to corn-based foods and gluten-free cereals, in line with the main consumer trends, and increasing its international presence.
With this acquisition, Cereal Docks is strengthening its own manufacturing and sales platform dedicated to corn, a key gluten-free cereal in the company’s strategic portfolio. Through the acquisition of Quality Corn Group, Cereal Docks will be able to further expand its industrial presence across Europe. Moreover, the integration with the Molino Favero mill, specialised in the production of corn flours and gluten-free ingredients, will support the development of industrial and commercial synergies, including in agricultural sourcing, product innovation, and higher-value ingredient solutions.
The Spanish Quality Corn Group is one of Europe’s leading companies in corn milling for food use. The group has its main production facility in Ariéstolas in Aragon, and a second facility in the south-west of France. With a turnover of around 90 million euro and a staff of 80 people, Quality Corn Group operates along a fully integrated supply chain, from seed to ingredient, enabling direct control over all stages of the production process, ensuring traceability and the highest quality of raw materials, as well as continuity of supply for the food industry.
Quality Corn Group is specialised in the selection, storage, and milling of corn, and is one of the main suppliers to the bakery, snack, beer, and popcorn industries, offering a vastly diverse range of products, including pre-cooked, raw, and nixtamalised corn flours. It is also one of the major European suppliers of corn kernels, serving major food companies around the world with products ranging from toasted corn kernels for crunchy snacks, as well as specific varieties for tortillas, nachos, and other Tex-Mex products.
“We are very pleased with the acquisition of Quality Corn Group, which represents another strategic milestone in our growth journey”, says Mauro Fanin, President of Cereal Docks Group. “This move is fully aligned with our industrial vision, which focuses on developing integrated, high-value agricultural supply chains, and strengthens our role as an industrial partner for the international food industry. Quality Corn shares our approach to quality, traceability, and complete control over the supply chain, both of which are key elements for supporting our partners in increasingly complex and global markets.”
In turn, Agustí Mariné, founder and Managing Director of the Quality Corn Group, states:
“This is a great moment for the team of professionals who have built Quality Corn Group. We are, and want to continue being, a company with deep agricultural roots. More than 800 professional farmers contribute today the best of our land to produce the finest foods. Now, together with Cereal Docks, we want to increase this number and give our customers the opportunity to access a broader range of ingredients. I believe this step was the natural evolution required by an increasingly professionalized agri-food sector, with greater social awareness and responsibility toward our environment. My most sincere gratitude to all those who have helped us get to where we are today”.
With regard to the advisors involved in the transaction, EY-Parthenon acted as exclusive financial advisor (M&A) and EY Abogados acted as legal advisor to Quality Corn Group. Cereal Docks availed itself of the support of KPMG as legal and Due Diligence advisors, SAT Studio Legale as legal advisors and TZ&A Advisory Firm as financial advisor.
About Cereal Docks
Cereal Docks is an Italian industrial Group that operates in the primary processing of agri-food raw materials, to produce ingredients (flours, oils, lecithins, gluten-free flours, plant extracts) derived from oilseeds and cereals for applications in the animal feed, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and technical sectors. The headquarters are in Camisano Vicentino (Vicenza), where this highly successful family business was set up in 1983 by Mauro and his cousin Paolo Fanin. Over the years, the Group has focused on diversifying its product portfolio and developing new business areas. In addition to consolidating its core business, Cereal Docks Group is today committed to developing its business in a way that shifts the focus from food to a nutrition-led vision. By increasingly addressing the needs of health and well-being, the development of sustainable, wholesome products that safeguard the health of both people and animals plays a key role within a context of quality, safety, standardisation, and environmental sustainability. In 2021, Cereal Docks was restructured as a Benefit Company, a legal form under Italian law committing the company to sustainability and social responsibility.
About Quality Corn Group
Quality Corn Group is a leading Spanish industrial producer specializing in cultivating corn varieties for the agri-food sector. It has a long-standing history focused on the careful selection, processing, and storage of high-quality corn. The company’s production is oriented toward four main applications that play an essential role in the food industry: popcorn, roasted corn, corn destined for nacho manufacturing, and corn grits used in semolina-based processes. Based in Spain and supported by a broad and loyal customer base, Quality Corn Group has strengthened its reputation through technical specialization, consistent product quality, and a deep understanding of food manufacturers’ needs. With state-of-the-art facilities and rigorous quality control standards, the Group ensures that each corn variety it handles meets the highest requirements for safety, traceability, and performance across its different end uses. Over the years, the company has continuously evolved, combining tradition and innovation to expand its product offering and reinforce its market position. Quality Corn Group remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and high-performance ingredients that contribute to the success of a wide range of food products.
