HOCHDORF to Merge Sales Organisations

The HOCHDORF group is one of these. HOCHDORF Holding Ltd. currently comprises five sales companies and a production company with three production sites. This structure will be adapted to new and future market conditions.

17/02/09 The HOCHDORF foodstuffs group, which has shown considerable growth in recent years, is merging its two sales organisations HOCHDORF Nutrition Ltd. and HOCHDORF Nutrifood Ltd. retrospectively from 1 January, 2009. In future the two companies’ products will be sold under the name HOCHDORF Nutrifood Ltd. At the same time, business areas of the HOCHDORF group that are no longer strategically relevant will cease and the lease on the Steinhausen location will be cancelled by 15 March, 2011. The strategic focus will be placed on preparations for the forthcoming free trade agreement in the food industry.

The food industry is subject to increasingly rapid change and globalisation and is therefore becoming much more open. Sooner or later, free trade agreements (for example, with the EU) can be expected in the food industry, opening up excellent new market opportunities for the Swiss companies that are focussed and swift to act. The HOCHDORF group is one of these. HOCHDORF Holding Ltd. currently comprises five sales companies and a production company with three production sites. This structure will be adapted to new and future market conditions.

The sales companies HOCHDORF Nutrifood Ltd. and HOCHDORF Nutrition Ltd. are being merged retrospectively from 1 January, 2009 and will be based at the Hochdorf site under the name HOCHDORF Nutrifood Ltd. This step will exploit numerous synergies. The business areas that constitute the key skill areas of the HOCHDORF group will continue to operate in Nutrifood Ltd. The HOCHDORF group currently has three production sites: Hochdorf LU, Steinhausen ZG, and Sulgen TG. The closure of the Steinhausen site will lead to significant improvements in productivity. Wheat germ processing will start at the Hochdorf site by mid 2010 at the latest. Customers are not affected by this move and our ability to deliver will be maintained at all times. Wheat germ is rich in folic acid and vitamin E. It is manufactured in a unique cold-pressure procedure and the trend towards healthy eating means that wheat germ has a large, world-wide market potential.

The strategic focus will influence the staffing situation at the HOCHDORF group. The merger and additional recruitment requirements will mean that at least 28 jobs will remain in strategic business areas. Nevertheless, the new focus will mean a reduction of 36 jobs by the end of this business year, which is a source of regret to the company. The mid and long-term reductions in staffing make a considerable contribution towards strengthening the group’s EU compatibility, competitiveness and profitability. Affected employees will be supported by the HOCHDORF group and a social compensation plan will also be created.