Raisio plans to divest feed business to focus on “healthy foods”

The Finland-based food manufacturer is keen to pursue a healthy foods strategy and has confirmed it could be disposing of its cattle and fish feed business.

Until now, Benecol and Healthy Food businesses have operated as separate organizations and will now be combined into a single Healthy Food Division.

During spring 2018, the company will also initiate measures to simplify the group’s legal corporate structure.

“To ensure Raisio’s organic growth, we are going to move from a holding-type structure to a model in which all resources are targeted toward supporting the strategic objectives of the Healthy Food Division,” says Pekka Kuusniemi, Raisio Group’s President and CEO.

Raisio divested its confectionery business in December 2017, which included six production plants in the UK and Czech Republic, as well as the brands, of which Poppets, Fox’s, XXX, Just and Pedro are the best-known. Furthermore, the business is a significant confectionery producer for its retail and industrial customers.

In addition to his CEO role, Pekka Kuusniemi will serve as CCO of the Healthy Food Division until a new director is appointed.

The new division is divided into three geographic regions: Northern and Eastern Europe, Western Europe and the rest of the world and the new organizational structure will be put into effect as of February 1, 2018.

Vincent Poujardieu, the Vice President of Benecol business and member of the Group Management Team, will leave Raisio on January 31, 2018.

President and CEO Pekka Kuusniemi, CFO Antti Elevuori, Vice President of HR Merja Lumme, Vice President of Legal Affairs Sari Koivulehto-Mäkitalo, Vice President of Operations Jukka Heinänen and Vice President of Raisioagro Perttu Eerola will continue as Group Management Team members.