HOCHDORF Implements Restructuring Program, Company Renamed

06 Jan 2015 --- The Hochdorf Group has implemented its planned restructuring programme. The development, production and sales activities in Switzerland have been merged into Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd effective from the new year. With immediate effect, the Hochdorf Group is now operating under the new name of Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition in Switzerland and for export business.

The restructuring announced by the Hochdorf Group has been implemented from the first of this month. The aim of the restructuring programme is to simplify processes and structures as well as increasing cost transparency. From the beginning of the year the sales companies have been operating on the market as Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd business areas.

"The reorganisation will be evident to the international market through the new company name Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd," explains CEO Dr Thomas Eisenring. The name uses the words " Hochdorf " and "Swiss" to emphasise the company's origins. The word nutrition refers to the core business – the production of healthy foods and nutritional ingredients.

According to Christoph Hug, Head of Corporate Communications, there were previously three separate businesses, but under the new umbrella, Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition is active in the three business areas of Dairy Ingredients, Baby Care and Cereals & Ingredients: “The restructuring and the new name does not influence the business with our customers; it’s more of an internal process. Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition supplies its products to more than 70 countries, key of which are the EU countries and Middle East, North Africa and Asia,” he said. “The strategy remains the same as before.”

Dairy Ingredients involves the development, production and marketing of various powdered products made from milk and whey; Baby Care is the development, production and marketing of premium products in the area of milk-based products for mothers, babies, small children and juniors; and Cereals & Ingredients is the development, production and marketing of various Viogerm wheat germ products as well as instant dessert products

As of 1.1.2015 HOCHDORF Holding Ltd comprises HOCHDORF Swiss Nutrition Ltd, HOCHDORF Baltic Milk UAB, HOCHDORF Deutschland GmbH as well as Marbacher Ölmühle GmbH, all at a 100% holding. HOCHDORF Holding Ltd has a majority share of 60% of Uckermärker Milch GmbH. HOCHDORF also has a 26% share in Ostmilch Handels GmbH.

One of the greatest challenges in the restructuring project was in programming the ERP operating system. “Thanks in large part to our own efforts, we were able to go live with a practice-oriented operating system (CSB),” says CEO Dr Thomas Eisenring. The CEO explains the benefits of the restructuring project: “The new organisational structure will firstly simplify many processes. Secondly, we will gain greater cost transparency thanks to user-pays cost allocation for the individual business areas. Thirdly, joint overhead costs will no longer apply.” Dr Eisenring is therefore confident that the objectives set at the outset have been met in full.