Hochdorf reports significant operational progress
Hochdorf Group focused on its technology expertise in 2022 and made steady operational progress with improved earnings quality.
The company result for 2022, which is affected by legacy burdens, amounted to CHF –15.8 m. A binding financing confirmation has been received from the existing bank consortium with regard to a two-year extension of the financing agreement that expires in September 2023. Hochdorf considers itself to be on track with the implementation of its strategy, establishing the basis for financial recovery in the medium term. The goal for 2023 is to achieve a positive Ebitda.
Barry Callebaut, Nestlé collaborate on large scale agroforestry project
The international cocoa and chocolate giants Barry Callebaut AG, Zürich, and Nestlé SA, Vevey, are partnering on large scale agroforestry project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The long-term agreement will roll out 11,500 ha of agroforestry, including payments for ecosystem services (PES) to more than 6,000 farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. The implementation of the agroforestry project is underway, with three cooperatives in the South-Western parts of Côte d’Ivoire already engaged in the project, scaling to ten cooperatives and reaching full scale after five years of planting.
The project is fully aligned with the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, which aims to make Nestlé’s cocoa supply chain more sustainable, Nestlé’s overarching Net Zero Roadmap and commitment to regenerative agriculture. This joint partnership supports Nestlé’s and Barry Callebaut’s climate-smart cocoa ambitions, by aiming to remove up to 1.3 million tonnes of CO2e over 25 years. This project also aligns with the Science-based Target initiative (SBTi), as well SustainCert verification and the Gold Standard Foundation.
“As part of Nestlé’s Net Zero roadmap, we are committed to reducing our business' climate impact all the way to the farms we source from. A trusted partner like Barry Callebaut is essential to achieving success. Over 21,000 football fields are covered by our joint agroforestry project to support farmers who are part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan,” said Darrell High, Cocoa Manager at Nestlé
Ten companies from the identification industry join forces
Possehl Identification Solutions (PID) is an alliance of Possehl companies in the field of print and apply, labelling, coding, software and label production.
Through the acquisition of new companies, the identification solutions division at Possehl has grown strongly in recent years. Currently, there are these ten companies: Logopak, LSS, Novexx Solutions, Eidos, Etipack, Datakamp, Labelcraft, and Nordvalls Label Group with Kölle Etiketten and Watermill. By uniting as Possehl Identification Solutions (PID), these independent brands are joining forces and bring together the expertise and experience of all companies. They are now a strong one-stop provider for identification solutions, from hardware to software and labels, also working together on customer projects.
Symrise sales and profits rise
Symrise reports that it closed the 2022 fiscal year with another strong increase in sales and good profitability despite challenging economic conditions.
The group’s sales increased by 20.7 % to EUR 4.6 bn. Concerning the Taste, Nutrition & Health segment, sales increased by 24.8 % to EUR 2.9 bn. The German flavour and fragrance company reaffirms its long-term profitable growth path with its thirteenth dividend increase. However, the company expects energy and raw material costs to keep rising.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda), before deducting a one-off impairment loss on the associated company Swedencare booked in the fourth quarter, increased to EUR 922 m, also significantly higher than last year’s figure of EUR 814 m.
Sparkalis invests in foodtech company Fooditive
Foodtech venture fund Sparkalis has taken a minority stake in Fooditive BV, a next-gen food technology business specializing in sustainable plant-based ingredients.
Following the investment, Sparkalis Managing Director Filip Arnaut has joined Fooditive’s advisory board. There are now eleven foodtech experts sitting on the board. They will provide advice and insights to support Fooditive’s mission to create plant-based ingredients that are healthier for consumers, better for the planet and kinder to animals. The company, based in the Netherlands, has risen to prominence for successfully harnessing its precision fermentation technology to produce ground-breaking innovations such as vegan casein and bee-free honey.
Vitafoods Europe 2023: CarobWay brings the ancient carob to the modern table
FoodTech start-up CarobWay brings the nutritional treasures of the ancient carob fruit to the modern table (Vitafoods Europe 2023, 9 to 11 May, Geneva/Switzerland, booth L49).
One formulation under development is a prebiotic powder enriched with fibres and polyphenols that possess anti-inflammatory properties and support a healthy gut microbiome. The company creates a clean-label, natural sweetener with a low glycaemic index. This single ingredient replaces sugar as a one-to-one drop-in. At the CarobWay booth, visitors can taste chocolate gummy bears and confectionery fortified with prebiotic carob powder.
Puratos switches to more sustainable packaging solutions
Puratos, a leading global provider of bakery, patisserie and chocolate ingredients, announces its commitment to switching to more sustainable packaging solutions.
In addition to the sweeping sustainability improvements, the company will enhance the functionality of several packaging types for its customers’ convenience, including easier recycling, simpler opening and closing and better pallet stacking properties. With these developments, Puratos is moving closer to reaching its goal of being carbon-neutral across operations by 2025 and a zero-waste-to-landfill company by 2030 – while simultaneously helping to lower customers’ environmental footprints worldwide.
Ulrick & Short launches clean label egg white replacer for meringues