GNT has passed the halfway mark in its mission to reduce carbon intensity at its EXBERRY® colour factories by 50 % over the course of the current decade.
Based on volume of product sold, GNT cut carbon emissions at its production sites in the Netherlands, Germany, and United States by 26 % between 2020 and 2024. This achievement is particularly significant in light of the company’s growth during the same period.
Global sales for plant-based EXBERRY® colours have increased more than 50 % since 2020. Under normal circumstances, such growth would have driven a substantial increase in total carbon emissions due to increased production demands. However, by improving efficiency and investing in sustainable technologies, GNT has been able to keep overall emissions in check.
GNT’s new sustainability report reveals there has been strong progress toward many of the 17 sustainability targets it is working to achieve by 2030.
Water efficiency at its factories has improved by 30 % compared to 2020, which already surpasses the original 20 % goal. The company is also committed to ensuring every contract farmer growing fruits, vegetables, and plants for EXBERRY® colours enrolls in sustainable agriculture training programs. By the end of 2024, 80 % had achieved the level of FSA (Farm Sustainability Assessment) Silver or Gold.
In addition to its environmental aims, GNT’s targets include measures to benefit people throughout the EXBERRY® value chain. In 2024, the lost-time accident rate at the factories fell to 25 % below the industry average. The company also helped organise a three-day leadership training program in Peru as part of its commitment to supporting social livelihood projects in its sourcing areas.
Hendrik Hoeck, CEO at GNT Group, said: “We are proud to say that we are still delivering on our ambitious plans to protect people and planet while achieving significant global growth. Our 2024 report underlines our continued determination to lead the food colouring industry on sustainability and ensure that GNT is in a position to thrive for generations to come.”
GNT secured an EcoVadis gold medal last year for its environmental and ethical activities, with its score placing the company among the top 3 % in the food manufacturing industry.
It is now working on plans to go even further in 2025. With GNT on track to meet its CO2 targets at its factories, the top priority going forward is to reduce indirect emissions from throughout its wider value chain.
Rutger de Kort, Sustainability Manager at GNT Group, said: “We have made excellent progress at our production sites and now need to work with our suppliers to achieve reductions in other areas. This is more challenging as these emissions are outside our direct control, but our closely managed supply chain gives us a real advantage and we are developing plans to address the biggest hotspots.”
In line with its commitment to transparency, GNT secures independent verification for its emissions data. It also offers its customers Product Environmental Footprint information across scopes 1, 2, and 3 for EXBERRY® colours.
Rutger de Kort added: “Trust is hugely important to us. This is why we publish independently audited Greenhouse Gas Verification Statements and provide our customers with the data they need to make informed decisions about how to optimise their recipes.”
At the third annual Women in Packaging (WIP) event, held at Pack Expo Chicago 2024, the event brought together a record number of women from across various fields within the packaging industry. From sales, operations, and technical specialists the diversity was inspiring, strengthening, and empowering. This diversity was highlighted by the speakers at the event.
Valentina Aureli and Tyng-Wu (Photo: AETNA GROUP Spa)
The event commenced with a keynote speech by Valentina Aureli, CEO of Aetna Group. She provided her outlook of the company’s achievements, her vision of the female role within the company, and the future she envisions for women within the industry. Highlighting the importance of key themes for the modern industry, such as flexibility of thought, openness to dialogue, and the principle of collaboration, Valentina Aureli concluded by stating, “Approaching success with value and knowing how to recognize priorities are key elements for staying dynamic and growing together, both as women and as a Group.”
The event also highlighted three very diverse guest speakers. These speakers were selected among their peers not only due to their achievements, but also because they exemplify strong women within the packaging industry. Each woman is an example of how she was inspired, how she was strengthened, and how she was empowered to become the success she is today.
Carla D, Regional Territory Manager at Paragon Films, shared her infectious energetic perspective on how knowledge is power. She emphasized the importance of becoming an expert in a specific field, passionately choosing the right product to focus on, and making the most of one’s abilities. Carla also encouraged the women to push outside of their comfort zone and to be more hands on.
Kelly Beerman, Equipment & Packaging Specialist at Midland Packaging, shared her remarkable success as the “Robot Queen,” having reached the milestone of 600 robots sold in the past years. Her keys to success are based on deeply understanding the customers’ needs, improving efficiencies through understanding workflow processes, and ensuring that the solutions provided were the most impactful. By expanding on her technical knowledge, she has been able to offer more value to her customers as well as set herself apart.
Flor Del Rio, Packaging Sales Partner at Associated Packaging, was the final speaker at the event. Flor shared how her father inspired her to become the strong woman she is today. Flor shared how she is not only a woman that sells the machine, but she shared how she is also the woman that puts the machine together. She accents the importance of not being afraid to ask questions and how collaboration amongst colleagues and suppliers is critical to success.
Tyng Wu (Robopac USA Regional Sales Manager) who inspired the WIP initiative from the beginning affirms “The conceptualisation and initiation of the WIP program is based on three key components: networking, where we inspire; mentorship, where we strengthen; and education, where we empower. The combination of these three key components makes the Robopac USA WIP program unique within the industry. This uniqueness sets us apart from other machinery manufacturers.”
The annual event not only highlighted diversity among the group, but it also brought together the three key components of the WIP program. “Our commitment is to support those who strive for excellence, fostering an environment where synergy among people is encouraged,” concluded Valentina Aureli.
WIP events and initiatives such as the WIP sales training program reaffirms, Aetna Group’s commitment to pushing women to the forefront. It’s not only a commitment to being the leader in innovation, but it’s also to being the leader in helping women make an impact within the industry. The time is now, the moment is here.
Annual cost savings potential: € 80 – 100 million
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG’s Supervisory Board approved AGRANA NEXT LEVEL, the new Group strategy presented by the Management Board. The implementation of the measures it details will significantly increase AGRANA’s competitiveness in the future and is the company’s response to challenges such as economic uncertainty, geopolitical crises, high raw material volatility and increasing cost pressure. The strategy focuses on system change and profitable growth, and aims to reduce the company’s dependency on market volatility as well as increase its basic profitability.
The core element of AGRANA NEXT LEVEL is the transformation of the AGRANA Group into a streamlined, strategic holding company with two strategic business units: “Agricultural Commod- ities & Specialities” and “Food & Beverage Solutions”. This reorganisation will enable the Group to pool its expertise in a targeted manner and make greater use of existing synergy potential both in terms of markets and costs. The resulting annual savings potential, which will be fully effective from the 2027|28 financial year onwards, amounts to approximately € 80 – 100 million and is an integral part of AGRANA NEXT LEVEL.
All the details required to realise the savings effects resulting from AGRANA NEXT LEVEL will be worked out in detail by the end of the current financial year 2024|25 and then implemented step by step.
Stephan Büttner (Photo: AGRANA)
AGRANA CEO Stephan Büttner: “AGRANA NEXT LEVEL is our roadmap through a multitude of challenges that will affect our employees, customers, suppliers and owners alike. The trans- formation of our company is designed to make our organisation more effective and agile in future. With this new strategy, we’re responding to current challenges while also proactively shaping our future. We’ll achieve cost and market synergies, which will strengthen our profit- ability and increase our scope for future profitable growth. By systematically implementing our portfolio strategy and focusing on innovation, we’ll lead AGRANA into a successful future.”
In addition to structural transformation, sustainability remains a central component of AGRANA’s NEXT LEVEL strategy. We’re on track to achieve net-zero emissions (Scope 1+2) by 2040; and Scope 3 by 2050 at the latest. “This commitment is not only part of our social responsibility, but also a strategic imperative to remain competitive in the long term. We’ll have invested more than € 600 million in sustainable technologies and energy efficiency by 2040 to ensure that AGRANA meets the requirements of the Paris Agreement on climate change,” emphasises CEO Büttner.
The new role of the holding company
In future, AGRANA Holding will focus on the strategic direction of key areas, including strategy and transformation, human resources management, IT, procurement and operations excel- lence. Operational services are being combined to ensure efficient management of the Group. Consolidating similar functions and streamlining structures avoids redundant processes and ensures simpler, more efficient workflows.
A new role for the divisions
In order to combine the competencies of the AGRANA Group effectively and to align them with the market as well as create cost synergies, the company’s structure will be transformed into a more functional and permeable business model. While four companies (divisions) will remain under the holding company, they will be strategically combined into two business units, “Ag- ricultural Commodities & Specialities” (sugar, starch, fruit juice concentrate) and “Food and Beverage Solutions” (fruit flavour, brown flavour & spicy preparations, flavourings, syrups, sauces) to better meet the different management requirements.
“Agricultural Commodities & Specialities” will focus on cost efficiency, from raw material pur- chasing to production due to the broad standardisation of products and high competitive pres- sure. This business unit will build on its strength of having a regional footprint with its proximity to raw materials and proven expertise in raw material management.
In future, the low margins resulting from the dependence of raw material processing on agri- cultural cycles, climate and market conditions will be counteracted by optimising processes and technologies. The structural similarities between sugar and starch production offer great synergy potential, which AGRANA will be exploiting by aligning production and maintenance processes, as well as by intensifying technology transfer (for example, in emission-reducing energy systems).
In “Food and Beverage Solutions”, management focuses on developing innovative solutions for and with industrial customers. Here, AGRANA can draw on its market leadership in fruit preparations with a global footprint, worldwide customer proximity and innovative strength. The focus is on customer-specific, value-added products and the co-creative development of customised solutions with customers in the food and beverage industry. This higher level of innovation will lead to products with stronger margins and better opportunities for differenti- ation in global markets. In particular, the “Ice Cream”, “Food Service” and “Flavours” customer segments will be further promoted. The existing collaboration between AGRANA Fruit and AUSTRIA Juice in product development will be intensified, for example by using AUSTRIA Juice’s flavour expertise for dairy products.
“AGRANA NEXT LEVEL is not just the name of our new strategy; it’s the philosophy for the future of our entire organisation. The strategy was developed by the AGRANA management team with the support of external expertise and the diligent work of an internal project team, to whom I’d like to express my sincere thanks. We’re taking many valuable things with us from our almost forty-year company history and we’re leaving some things behind us as we enter a new era. Knowing that we have a strong team of many outstanding colleagues, we’re confident that the transformation we’ve begun will be a success story and that we’ll continue to succeed as we chart our course into the future,” concludes CEO Stephan Büttner.
Sunny Sky Products, LLC, a leading producer of dispensed beverage solutions offering hot, cold, frozen, and beverage enhancer products for the convenience store and foodservice channels in the US, announced the closing of its acquisition of LX/JT Holdings Inc and subsidiaries, Dba Bevolution Group, a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative beverage solutions, primarily selling clean label and preservative free smoothie bases, bar and cocktail mixes, juices, concentrates and other related beverage products into the foodservice channel from Highlander Partners, L.P. (along with its affiliates “Highlander”). The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Bevolution was created via the combination of well-respected and reputable brands including JuiceTyme, Lemon-X, Dr. Smoothie and Tropics. The business operates a multi-site beverage manufacturing platform with 3 facilities strategically positioned across the US, with capacity to support future growth. Bevolution develops and innovates new products with its in-house R&D staff and partners with its customers to bring new on-trend products to market.
About Sunny Sky Products Sunny Sky, a portfolio company of TJC, is a leading producer of dispensed beverage solutions, offering hot, cold, frozen, and beverage enhancer products for the convenience store and foodservice industry. The Company’s products include specialty cappuccinos, frappes, hot chocolates, cold brew and iced coffee, craft beverages, fountain drinks, aguas frescas, teas, frozen slushies, smoothies, coffee syrups, creamers, sauces and toppers. The Company employs approximately 400 team members across three best-in-class manufacturing facilities, Houston, TX (headquarters), Tinley Park, IL and Douglassville, PA.
About Bevolution Group Bevolution is a leading manufacturer of innovative beverage solutions primarily selling clean label and preservative free smoothie bases, refreshers, bar and cocktail mixes, juices, teas, lemonades, thickened waters, beverage powders and other beverage concentrates in both shelf stable and frozen formats. Bevolution predominantly serves the foodservice, hospitality, coffee shop and convenience channels. The company markets and sells its products under company brands including Dr. Smoothie, Tropics, Refrasia and Lemon-X, as well as partners with customers on select customer or private label products. The business operates 3 manufacturing facilities across the US with production facilities in Chicago, IL, Frostproof, FL, and Fullerton, CA and employs approximately 175 employees across all locations.
This year, within the context of the world’s most important packaging event, interpack, the spotlight was focused on Women in Packaging, a panel discussion featuring five industry female leaders. An audience of more than 150 people attended the panel on 8 May, demonstrating that this is a hot topic that will continue to be discussed even after the Düsseldorf trade fair has concluded.
Valentina Aureli, CEO of the Aetna Group together with her brother Enrico, was among the protagonists of the panel. She shared her view on women’s position in the world of packaging and spoke about her career path. In addition to her, other prominent professionals shared their stories at the event: Afsaneh Nabifar, Head of Market Development for Biopolymers at BASF; Australian Nadia Taylor, co-founder and director of TNA Solutions; Marjo Halonen, Vice President of Communications at Metsä Board Corporation in Finland; and Gabi Bauer, Head of Marketing and Communications at Uhlmann Pac-Systeme.
For the first time at interpack, this year’s format was organised with the support of the World Packaging Organization, WPO. Furthermore, it was created to inspire and disseminate the testimonies of women who have made their mark on the packaging industry. In fact, until recently, this sector was dominated mainly by men. However, it is now also being positively valued by many young women who wish to pursue careers in this area.
Valentina Aureli explained to the audience that she gained her experience in international high finance at Rothschild Banking. However, over the past two decades, she and her brother have guided Aetna Group towards steady global growth with the main brands Robopac and OCME. “It is important to be the same person both at home and at work, and to always put yourself out there”, commented the CEO, “but keeping in mind three fundamental coordinates, which have helped me overcome challenges in both my personal and professional lives. Be real, be whole and be innovative”. She stated emphatically: “Essentially, this means being oneself regardless of external influences, being whole by following one’s principles, and finally being innovative by employing not only rational, but emotional and social intelligence as well. All this is very valuable in working environments”.
At Aetna Group, talent development is the basis of a rich and stimulating work system, which knows no cultural or gender differences.
Valentina Aureli commented on the subject, stating: “I am fortunate to be able to say that our Group is filled with talented individuals, many of whom are women. We have several female managers on the front line in China, Mexico, Italy and America, even in sectors and departments in which women have traditionally been under-represented and where specific product knowledge is required. I am referring to engineering, sales engineering, after-sales, sales and spare parts. It is also noteworthy that there are women managers in more traditional roles, such as marketing, human resources, and administration. My choices to place women in certain key roles reflect their ability to coordinate and facilitate processes”.
This was a successful event and a source of inspiration for many young women, as well as a very sensitive topic within the Group. The latter had already proposed and organised it on several occasions through the Robopac USA subsidiary under the same title: the first time in October 2022 at Pack-Expo in Chicago, and then twice more this year in Duluth, home of the American HQ.
Provisional, unaudited operating profit of EUR 158 million
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the AGRANA Group for the period to 28 February 2023 reveals a provisional, unaudited operating profit of EUR 158 million, which is therefore significantly higher than the Company’s own guidance (“up to + 50 % compared to prior year”).
The provisional consolidated earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)* for the 2022/23 financial year (1 March 2022 to 28 February 2023) amount to EUR 88 million (2021/22: € 24.7 million). EBIT takes into account impairment charges taken against assets and goodwill in the amount of EUR 91 million which were recognised in the half-year financial statements (prior year: net exceptional items expense of EUR 70 million). Group revenue will amount to EUR 3.6 billion (2021/22: EUR 2.9 billion).
AGRANA’s Management Board currently forecasts a very significant improvement in EBIT during the ongoing 2023/24 financial year (more than + 50 %). The assumption is that consolidated revenue will increase significantly (by more than + 10 % and up to + 50 %). Key uncertainties however remain the war in Ukraine and its consequences.
The 2022|23 annual results and the 2022/23 annual report will be published as scheduled on 17 May 2023.
*After exceptional items and share of results of equity-accounted joint ventures
EARI Beverage Group, a diversified beverage and media group, announces the acquisition of the Blossom Botanical Water Brand.
Adding to the EARI Beverage Group portfolio, the acquisition of Blossom Botanical Water expands the footprint in the functional and craft beverage market segments. The Blossom brand fits perfectly with EARI’s strategy of identifying and acquiring brands in high-growth categories that have proven operating models and clear consumer acceptance. Blossom is credited with creating a new sub-category of plant-based waters using botanicals. The brand has distribution along the US East Coast and Midwest and has generated roughly USD 4 million in gross sales since inception.
About Blossom Botanical Water Founded in Massachusetts 10 years ago and inspired by nature, Blossom Botanical Water is distinguished by its use of flower botanicals as a key flavour component across its portfolio of products. At only 20 calories per 16.9 oz bottle, it’s a delicious, healthy alternative to both plain water and high-sugar sodas or juices. Blossom infuses pure spring water with the taste and aroma extracted from real blossoms, then uses a complementary fruit to create five hand-crafted unique flavours of distinctive appeal: Lemon Rose, Plum Jasmine, Mango Hibiscus, Pomegranate Geranium and Grapefruit Lilac. Blossom Water is further enhanced for your health by providing scientifically proven benefit to strengthen immunity, the body’s best defense for maintaining wellness and vitality. Each bottle contains as much immune system support as 1 billion CFUs of probiotic from the strain Bacillus coagulants GBI-30 6086. Blossom Water’s drinks are certified non-GMO and free of gluten, caffeine, and sodium. They have no artificial flavours, sweeteners, colours, or preservatives, and they are kosher and vegan.
Tim Berger (Photo: Eckes-Granini Group)
The past business year was a year of contrasts for the Eckes-Granini Group GmbH a year full of contrasts. The second pandemic year pandemic year and customer conflicts in the food retail sector once again presented the company with challenges, while 2021 also marked the start of the largest transformation in the company’s history. Sales revenue decreased moderately from 873 million euros in fiscal 2020 to 856 million euros (- 1.9 %), while sales volumes also declined, falling by 38 million litres to 805 million litres (- 4.5 %). Germany and France were particularly affected by the decline in sales volumes. Here, differing views on price adjustments led in part to the discontinuation of supply relationships with partners in the food retail sector. As a result, Eckes-Granini posted EBIT of 57.2 million euros (previous year: 71.0 million euros). The decline of 13.8 million euros is attributable to the effects of the pandemic, customer conflicts in the food retail sector and significantly higher costs for raw and packaging materials compared to the previous year. Tim Berger, CEO of Eckes-Granini Group GmbH, looks back on the business year as follows: “Despite considerable challenges posed by Corona, lower sales volumes and massive cost inflation, we succeeded in gaining market share – especially in the Nordic and Baltic countries – and strengthening our position during the past business year. Overall, our sales grew in nine out of ten countries. We also performed well in our international business in European countries and outside Europe.”
Eckes-Granini remains market leader
While the market for fruit juices, nectars and fruit beverages (FJND) was still able to benefit from food stockpiling in 2020, it declined in both value (- 2.1 %) and volume (- 4.4 %) in the second pandemic year. In particular, there was less demand for ambient, non-refrigerated fruit drinks sold via retailers. Accordingly, the 2021 segment recorded a decline of 3.7 % in sales and 5.2 % in volume sales, thus performing somewhat weaker than the market as a whole. In this generally weaker market environment, Eckes-Granini recorded a 0.7 % decline in market share in terms of value (market share 12.2 %) and a 0.8 % decline in volume (market share 11.3 %). The good news is that brands continue to gain market share. The e-commerce segment also continues to grow strongly but is not included in these figures. Eckes-Granini was able to make significant gains here, growing by + 35 %.
Full focus on innovation, digitization, and sustainability
In the area of product innovations, the company got off to a flying start with the market launch of hohes C Super Shots in Germany and Joker Shots in France. The popular hohes C Super Shots are currently leading the two-digit growth of the shot category in Germany (+ 31.1 %). Since the past business year, the Eckes- Granini Group has also been investing heavily in new distribution channels and cooperative ventures, and growth and the acquisition of new customers in e-commerce are developing particularly promisingly.
The Eckes-Granini Group also scored points in sustainability in 2021. With the publication of the first Group-wide sustainability report and the implementation of numerous measures, Eckes-Granini took important steps toward a more sustainable orientation of its business activities last year. To reduce emissions in line with the latest climate science criteria and achieve its ambitious targets, Eckes-Granini has been working with the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) since 2021.
Successfully heading for the future with a strong growth strategy
2021 marked the launch of the Eckes-Granini Group’s Strategy 2025 and thus the largest transformation in the company’s history. “The transformation in the FJND market will continue and requires new ways of thinking and working – also from us as ‘category thought leaders’,” says Tim Berger. “At the same time, our goals are clearly defined: In 2025, we want to generate one billion euros in net sales and achieve a market share of 15 % in Europe. We successfully laid the foundation for these ambitious goals in 2021 and are now building on them. In the past fiscal year, we succeeded in maintaining our market leadership position despite numer ous challenges and a difficult market environment, growing locally and driving for- ward key innovations. We have thus made a solid and motivated start to 2022.”
About the Eckes-Granini Group Eckes-Granini is the leading supplier of fruit juices and fruit beverages in Euro-pa. For the inde- pendent family-owned company headquartered in Nieder-Olm, Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate), the focus is on committed and competent employees, strong brands in the areas of juices, fruit beverages and smoothies, and a long-term strategic orientation with sustainable value creation. Today, Eckes-Granini operates mainly in Europe with its own national companies and strategic partners and generates annual sales of 856 million euros with a total of 1697 employees. The com- pany’s foundation is formed by the internationally renowned premium brands granini and Pago to- gether with strong national and regional brands for juices such as hohes C, Joker and God Morgon. Consumers in 80 countries worldwide and especially in Europe know and appreciate our fruit juices and the variety of fruit drinks.
Royal DSM, a global purpose-led science-based company, reveals its new integrated Food & Beverage operating structure which unifies three areas of DSM’s nutrition business – Food Specialties, Hydrocolloids and part of its Nutritional Products group – to closely align with emerging customer and market needs. The new business group combines the company’s full range of food and beverage ingredients, expertise and science-based solutions that improve the taste and texture of foods, as well as support healthier lives and a healthier planet. The new Food & Beverage organization will focus on helping consumers ‘enjoy it all’ without having to choose between taste, texture and health. This differentiating message will be the cornerstone of a new campaign.
The global food and beverage market is set to continue its upward trajectory as the world’s population grows, placing new pressures on producers in an already competitive space to innovate and get to market quickly. At the same time, the industry is converging with the health and wellness space, and increasingly aligning with consumer expectations for delicious products that support their health alongside environmental and social aspirations. DSM’s strategy aims to support this market advancement through the creation of one Food & Beverage business group that encompasses the ingredients, global and local expertise and solutions provided by its previously distinct Food Specialties, Hydrocolloids and Nutritional Products business areas.
This simplified structure represents the activation of DSM’s announcement in September 2021 that the company will become a fully-focused Health, Nutrition & Bioscience company. By establishing a ‘one-stop-shop’ of ingredients, solutions and end-to-end capabilities, DSM will help food and beverage manufacturers worldwide fast-track product development and achieve efficient production. As a leading provider of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients, an innovator in enzyme solutions, and a frontrunner in dairy cultures, DSM has unrivalled nutritional science expertise and deep application knowledge which is paired with prominent advocacy for healthier and more sustainable food systems. This is supported by a number of recent acquisitions – including DSM’s acquisition of First Choice Ingredients, a leading supplier of dairy-based savory flavorings – which have enabled DSM to further elevate its taste, texture and health offering for customers. DSM is therefore uniquely placed to help manufacturers overcome the friction that must be navigated to deliver delicious, nutritious and sustainable food and beverage products, so customers and consumers can ‘enjoy it all’.
As an advocate and leader in enabling a healthier and more sustainable food system, DSM’s solutions help boost process efficiencies, reduce food loss and waste and lower the environmental impact of production and consumption – while also enhancing food’s nutritional profile. As part of this, DSM is taking strategic steps in developing specialty proteins that are produced within planetary boundaries, including CanolaPRO®, and supporting producers to be at the forefront of this protein diversification towards a healthier future. DSM’s recent acquisition of Vestkorn Milling, a supplier of pea- and bean-derived proteins, starches and dietary fibers, will also complement and further accelerate this growth. These efforts are part of DSM’s commitment to reach 150 million people with plant-based protein foods by 2030, in alignment with our recently announced series of quantifiable food system commitments.
Group EBIT target for full year unchanged
At € 31.2 million (Q3 2020|21: € 28.5 million), the consolidated EBIT of AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG in the third quarter of 2021/22 (1 September to 30 November 2021) was higher than expected. The key driver was considerably higher revenues in the Starch segment due to an all-time high of ethanol prices.
As a result, in the first three quarters of 2021/22 (1 March to 30 November 2021), AGRANA generated earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of € 76.0 million (Q1-3 2020|21: € 84.3 million). Group revenue amounted to € 2,169.6 million (Q1-3 2020|21: € 1,965.3 million).
The guidance for the full financial year 2021/22, according to which Group EBIT will increase significantly, remains unchanged; the forecast is for earnings before interest and tax to rise by at least 10 %.
Due to the extreme volatility in terms of commodity and energy prices as well as the COVID-19 situation again intensifying – the fourth wave in combination with the appearance of the Omikron variant – the forecast for the full year is characterised by a very high degree of uncertainty.
Further details relating to the development of business in the first three quarters of 2021/22 and more information about the various segments will be published by the Group as scheduled on 13 January 2022.
At its meeting yesterday, the Supervisory Board of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft extended the contract of CEO Stefan Klebert (55) by five years until December 31, 2026.
“Over the last two years, Stefan Klebert has led GEA back to a more successful path through targeted measures, highlighting the Group’s great potential for sustainable and profitable growth,” said Dr. Helmut Perlet, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GEA Group AG. “The Supervisory Board therefore expresses its fullest confidence in him and is pleased to be able to continue our extremely successful cooperation.”
“I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for the trust they have placed in me,” commented Stefan Klebert, CEO of GEA Group AG. “GEA is a fantastic company with a compelling outlook for the future. I look forward to continuing to shape the company’s successful transformation.”
Shortly after Stefan Klebert took over as CEO in 2019, GEA initiated and consistently implemented several projects to improve efficiency. These initiatives, along with the short-term measures to manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have played a decisive role in ensuring that for the fiscal year 2020, GEA will again achieve significant gains in EBITDA before restructuring measures and the corresponding margin. In particular, the new organizational structure introduced in January 2020 has proven its worth by placing more revenue responsibility and decision-making power in the hands of local management.
Stefan Klebert became CEO in February 2019 and has been a member of the Executive Board since November 2018. On the Executive Board, he is responsible for all five divisions as well as the regions & country organizations. In this role, he also performs the function of Labor Director.
With great international experience, Mengoli spent 5 years with General Electric and was at the top levels of Tetra Pak for 15 years.
On 1st June, Giulio Mengoli became the new General Manager of the SACMI Group. His appointment was made official by the Board of Directors of the parent company, SACMI Imola.
A native of Padua, 49 years old, Giulio Mengoli has a long international experience, having held top positions in France, the United States, Brazil, Sweden and Italy.
The meeting with SACMI came in November 2018 and for 7 months Mengoli acted as General Manager of SACMI Business Units, immediately working alongside the present management to define the governance and strategic planning of the Group.
Giulio Mengoli takes over from Claudio Marani, who has led the SACMI Ceramics Division since 2000 and has been the Group’s General Manager since 2016.
“With the appointment of Mr. Mengoli as head of the SACMI Group – observed the president of SACMI Imola, Paolo Mongardi – we want to give a clear signal in the direction of further consolidation of the Group’s international vocation and strengthening of its leadership in all sectors of activity”. In the medium term, in addition to the development of core sectors, SACMI’s priorities include the issues of digital transformation and the circular economy, “to offer products and services that are increasingly customised and in line with the real needs of production and of the market”.
