Weekly Digest: Univar becomes a signatory of the UNGC, Mars Wrigley & Kellogg announce leadership shake-up

15 Jun 2018 --- This week in business, Univar became a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, DuPont Nutrition & Health is working to ensure its products are produced in ways that protect the ecosystems and communities in which the business operates. Mars Wrigley Confectionery has promoted its current Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Andrew Clarke, to the role of Global President and Kellogg has announced two leadership changes to help drive the company's growth strategy in the North American and European regions. Also this week, Symrise subsidiary Cobell has unveiled an upgraded Beverage Centre of Excellence in Exeter, UK.

In brief: Sustainability
Univar has become a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. Through this commitment, Univar further aligns its sustainability strategy with the ten UNGC principles around environmental, labor, human rights and anti-corruption issues. Under the compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labor groups and civil society, with the aim of facilitating the adoption of social and environmental norms into global business practices through learning and dialog.

As one of the world’s largest buyers of seaweed, DuPont Nutrition & Health (DuPont N&H) is working to ensure its products are produced in ways that protect the ecosystems and communities in which the business operates. To mark World Oceans Day (Friday, June 8), DuPont N&H announced a unique new seaweed program that will guide seaweed farmers and harvesters toward the adoption of more sustainable practices. Developed in collaboration with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium, the program is the first sustainable seaweed program specifically for the hydrocolloid industry.

In brief: Recognition & awards
Dairygold Ltd has celebrated having won 4 top awards at the recent 2018 British Cheese Awards. Dairygold’s American Style Soft Cheese, produced at its site in Leeds, won the Gold medal and the coveted Overall Winner award in the competition’s main category of Best Fresh Cheese. Its Mature White Cheddar also scooped a Gold Award along with its Irish-produced Emmental which was awarded a Silver Medal. The awards were an outstanding achievement as this year’s competition attracted over 1,000 entries from over 54 countries.

Meanwhile, Anchor Butter (pictured) has been crowned Brand of the Year at the Grocer Gold Awards. A symbol of quality and excellence for the FMCG industry, the awards recognize outstanding performance by an established brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs. Judged against innovation, originality, creativity and business results, Anchor’s approach to the declining BSM category and turnaround in its own sales decline through a new education-based strategy saw it scoop the accolade, beating off stiff competition from nine other industry heavyweights. The UK’s second largest butter brand and owned by dairy co-operative Arla Foods, Anchor delivered a retail sales value of £107m in 2017, an increase of over 13 percent year on year. 

In brief: Appointments & retirements
Mars Wrigley has promoted its current Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Andrew Clarke, to the role of Global President. The announcement comes after the current President Martin Radvan decided to retire after a 32-year career with the company, during which time he led the integration of the Mars Chocolate and Wrigley segments into Mars Wrigley Confectionery.

Kellogg Company has announced two leadership changes to help drive the company's growth strategy in the North American and European regions. Chris Hood, currently President, Kellogg Europe, has been named President, Kellogg North America reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Cahillane. The company also announced the appointment of Dave Lawlor, currently, Vice President, European Cereal Business, to President, Kellogg Europe. 

Peter Vogt, Head of Group Human Resources and Member of the Group Executive Board at Nestlé, will take a well-deserved retirement at the end of July 2018 after a long and distinguished career of 38 years at Nestlé. After joining Nestlé in 1980, Peter Vogt embarked on a career rich in international experience. The Board of Directors of Nestlé S.A. has appointed Chris Johnson, currently Head of Nestlé Business Excellence and Member of the Group Executive Board, to succeed Peter Vogt as Head of Group Human Resources. Effective August 1, 2018, Chris Johnson will assume his new responsibilities in addition to his current ones, as Head of Group Human Resources & Business Services.

In brief: Other highlights

The Board of Directors of Orkla has decided to consolidate the production of biscuits in the group and to build a new biscuits factory outside Riga, Latvia. This is part of the group's strategy of combining production in fewer and more efficient plants. By investing in a new, modern factory and concentrating production in one location, the company can strengthen future competitiveness and innovative ability and at the same time reduce their climate footprint. "The new production plant will allow us to focus investments on new technology, increase cost-effectiveness and create a stronger production platform, according to Ann-Beth Freuchen, Orkla Executive Vice President and CEO of Orkla Confectionery and Snacks," a statement read. Consequently, the current biscuits production operations in Kungälv and Riga will be closed down and relocated to the new factory. This change will be carried out by the end of 2022.

Symrise subsidiary Cobell has unveiled an upgraded Beverage Centre of Excellence in Exeter, UK. The move is part of a wider strategy by the leading supplier of juice products and taste solutions to the UK beverage industry to partner with British beverage companies via leading-edge innovation and best-in-class service. A previous significant milestone in this strategy was the acquisition of Cobell by Symrise, a global leader in the flavor and fragrance industry, in July 2017. Nick Russell, Managing Director of Symrise UK, explained: “The UK is the most dynamic beverage market in Europe. To win in this space you need a strong local footprint to provide innovative, fit-for-market solutions quickly and effectively. This new Centre of Excellence further expands our ability to do this.” The upgraded Centre of Excellence includes a lab area that has doubled in size, state-of-the-art beverage application equipment and a new ambient warehouse creating room for further production enhancement. The move is part of a wider strategy by the leading supplier of juice products and taste solutions to the UK beverage industry to partner with British beverage companies via leading-edge innovation and best-in-class service.

Finally, Mondelēz International has announced it has invested US$200 million since 2014 in its Opava biscuit manufacturing facility, which employs nearly 1,000 people and produces Power Brands like Oreo, belVita, Milka and Cadbury, for the European market. The investment builds on Opava’s proud heritage of more than a century as a biscuit-making center and supports the company’s global growth strategy to create a best-in-class integrated supply chain and to deliver consumer-inspired quality and innovation that meet changing consumer preferences.

By Elizabeth Green