Bananas
SIPEF started growing the Cavendish variety of bananas in Côte d’Ivoire in 1985. Today, our banana operations cover an area of 1 238 hectares in the southern Lagunes region of the country. SIPEF’s bananas are selected and packed for export at one of our seven packing stations.
Banana production rose by 2.2% to 52 159 tonnes in 2025.
SIPEF’s activities in Côte d’Ivoire are managed by our subsidiary, Plantations J. Eglin, which is one of the country's three major banana exporters. Approximately 60% of SIPEF’s bananas are supplied to ripening facilities in the UK, supporting long-term partnerships with leading retailers. Approximately 20% serve the broader European market through established warehouse and ripening networks before reaching retail shelves. The remaining 20% is commercialised within West Africa and sold in local markets, reinforcing the Group’s strong regional market presence and diversified sales portfolio.
Since 2025, all banana operations of Plantations J.Eglin, comprising five plantations and seven packing stations, have been fully certified in accordance with the Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, and GLOBALG.A.P. standards.
