Group
A top agro-industrial operator: a unique fully-integrated operator
Set up in 1988 by Abbas Jaber, and originally specialized in the trade of foodstuffs, Jaber’s Négoce is renamed ADVENS Group in 2003.
Over the years, the company has gained unique specific skills, especially in logistics and agriculture and quickly became a leader in Africa’s cotton industry.
This strategic sector is, for millions of people in several countries of Western and Central Africa, synonymous with food security, stability, both rural and economic development.
Subsidiary of the ADVENS Group, GEOCOTON (former CFDT/ DAGRIS) is a major player of cotton and food production in some fifteen (15) African countries.
Its proven and unique approach enables the rural economic emergence, in particular through trainings in better farming practices provided to cotton growers, the provision of credit inputs, the guarantee of purchasing the production before the sowing process, the local processing into fibers, oils and animal feed, the quality control, logistics, …
This sustainable and local approach precisely meets the current and the future challenges that Africa is facing.
“ The world’s future is at stake in Africa”
THE GEOCOTON FOUNDATION
The Geocoton Foundation supports the development of agricultural crops in Africa through the training and support to growers, but also by contributing to the upgrade of the local infrastructure.
The Geocoton Academy
Through these teachings, each one can gain new knowledge and upgrade his or her skills and thus contribute to the maintenance of the expertise developed by Geocoton for decades.
Les Moulins Advens
As a special partner, Les Moulins Advens (former Grands Moulins de Strasbourg) provides its expertise in the technological development of ingredients, flours and bread improvers to both our industrial and baker’s customer-base.
Our perfect knowledge of the wheat-flour sector allows us to offer a wide range of products such as baking flours, special breads, technological ingredients (enzymes, malted wheat flour), milling compensators, bread and viennoiserie, mixes and premixes.
Our ambition:
assert Africa’s position
Today, the ADVENS Group is operating in 15 African countries.
Its sustainable and responsible model contributes to the income of millions of growers and their families across the continent.
GEOCOTON’s success is based on the balanced partnership implemented with cotton growers and States in accordance with Human rights and natural resources.
Agriculture,
a pillar of development
At a time when the redistribution of global economic stakes is ongoing, the ADVENS Group argues in favor of Africa to take advantage of this opportunity so it asserts its place in the world.
Thus, the Group is able to accompany States, international institutions, investors by developing turnkey projects or by operating as technical support in agronomy, industry, finance, logistics, insurance…
The ADVENS Group is a driving partner. Our wish is to sustainably assist Africa in its emergence.
The Group in a few dates
Set-up of the Jaber’s Negoce company that will become the ADVENS Group in 2003. Its activity: the export of agri-commodities and raw materials to Africa (sugar, flour, oilseeds, wheat, rice,…)
The monthly magazine “l'Expansion”, ranked Jaber’s Negoce as the greatest success story of the decade*. The company ranked 3rd among 177 000 companies for its contribution to economic development. Thanks to these solid foundations, the ADVENS Group in 2004 ranked among the French leaders of food exports to Africa.
* 4th trophy of the decade, Bains & Company, HEC-l’Expansion-SCRL Group.
Acquisition of SONACOS, one of the biggest Senegalese industry specialized in the crushing and refining of peanut and edible oils.
Takeover of Transrail PLC, concessionary company of the railway Dakar / Bamako with States' agreements, the World Bank's approval and the AFD's (French Development Agency). The poor condition of the line burdens the development of the Port of Dakar and Mali’s.
After a public tender, the DAGRIS company (former CFDT, founded in 1949 to develop cotton in Africa – presently Geocoton) is acquired from the French State. This acquisition is part of the logical follow-uop of SONACOS since cotton and peanut are grown by the same farmers. This emphasizes the Group's willingnes to focus its strategy on the development of the cotton sector in Africa.
Disengagement of the ADVENS Group from SONACOS and TRANSRAIL in Senegal. Refocusing on the cotton sector.
Takeover of "Grands Moulins de Strasbourg" assets. Development of the flourmilling business.
Abbas JABER
Founding President and CEO
“I was born in Dakar, Senegal, in 1958 into a Lebanese family settled in Thiès since the beginning of the century; I also have the French nationality. I belong to 3 continents, I’m proud and I claim my 3 cultures.
At the beginning of the 80’s, after my studies in economic sciences at the University of Dakar, I left Senegal and settled in France.
I got initiated in the field to international trading and worked closely with high-ranking mentors until I laid the foundations of the present-day ADVENS Group in 1988.
I always knew that agriculture will regain its key role in Africa’s development. To this end, the ADVENS Group has introduced a new fully-integrated operation, covering all production phases: permanent contacts with growers, implementation of agricultural inputs, processing and commercialization”.
Governance
“Rigor, equity and know-how, these are the three pillars on which the ADVENS Group bases its own and its partners' sustainable development.“
Karim AIT TALB
Deputy General Manager of Advens-Geocoton Group
Rachida BOUKHARAZ
Executive Manager of COPACO
Trading Manager of ADVENS
Jean-Jacques CHATEAU
Advisor to the Chairman
Laurent COURT
Head of Group Business Control and Subsidiaries Monitoring
Pascal TARTEIX
Human Resources Manager of Advens-Geocoton Group
Alain ETCHEBERRY
Chief Executive of ADVENS
Mazen JABER
Sales Manager of Advens-Geocoton Group
Christophe PELLERIN LEFEBVRE
Finance and Accounting Manager of Advens-Geocoton Group
Vincent Thiry
Legal Affairs Manager of the Advens-Geocoton Group
Key figures
227 million €
of consolidated turnover in 2022
Industrial presence across
15 countries
Connected with
25 milliongrowers
2700
collaborators
135
industrial references
(ginning factories and oil mills)
Organization & Subsidiaries
The ADVENS GROUP is structured in 6 independent and complementary sectors
Agro-industry
SODECOTON
SODEFITEX
SOCOMA
SN CITEC
NIOTO
GEOCOTON
CMDT
Energy
URBASOLAR AFRICA
Engineering
& Supplies
GEOCOTON
DAI (Design Office Advens)
PODIA
Logistics
& Services
Trading
ADVENS
COPACO
Meunerie
LES MOULINS ADVENS
GMS ALIMENTAIRE
MOULIN DELIGNE
LES MOULINS REUNIS DE LA SARTHE
MOULIN ESTAGER
Our locations
Being THE major partner in Africa
The ADVENS Group mainly operates in French-speaking Africa (Western and Central Africa).
-
-
-
DIA (Bureau d'études ADVENS) - Département Agro-Industriel
53 avenue Victor Hugo
75116 Paris
France -
-
-
PAI (Produits et Accessoires Industriels)
Route du Hoc
76700 Gonfreville-l'Orcher
France -
-
PODIA
Bâtiment les sitelles-Hall B13
rue de la perdrix
CS 60047
95926
Roissy Charles de Gaulle cedex
France
-
SODEFITEX
Km 4
5 Bd du Centenaire de la Commune de Dakar
BP 3216
Dakar Region
Sénégal
