Fresh produce distributor Fyffes has bought Spanish business Medicitrus in its first foray into the citrus fruits market.

The Spanish company is located in Castellon has been rebranded as Fyffes Citrus with the aim of creating "a strong Fyffes brand image for citrus products", Fyffes said yesterday.

Fyffes did not disclose how much it paid for the "trade and assets" of Medicitrus. A spokesman said "it was a small amount" and under the threshold above which disclosure was required.

Ruth Castilla, who previously headed up Medicitrus, has been appointed as managing director of Fyffes Citrus. The new venture will continue to source fruit from the supply base of 150 producers previously used by Medicitrus, and the company has indicated that it would remain involved at all stages of production.

Medicitrus has been producing, packing and distributing citrus products for the past 40 years. The key markets for its produce have historically been the UK and Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the US.

Fyffes Citrus said yesterday that it would concentrate on increasing sales of its citrus fruits within Europe.