Trade fair interpack 2023 already fully booked
After six years and a forced absence during the pandemic, interpack, the world’s biggest trade fair for the packaging industry and related process industries is up and running again.
In 18 halls, targeted exhibition areas, new speciality shows and forums, the industry will demonstrate its innovative prowess. Around 2,700 exhibitors from around the world will present leading technology and packaging trends from the entire value chain. Six years and a forced absence during the pandemic mean that there is a multitude of novel developments on the market.
Visitors from the food industry will find everything in one area at interpack 2023. The same is true for visitors from confectionery and bakery industries. This refined layout was made possible by a new concept for the exhibition halls, which will be implemented for the first time in the coming year. The other focal points of the exhibition, namely packaging materials and packaging goods, machines for labelling and marking, production of packaging material and integrated printed packaging, are brought together in their own halls as well. Exhibitors at the accompanying suppliers' fair “components” will also be hosted in their own hall. Orientation for visitors is thus optimised, which allows visits to be planned more effectively.
interpack delivers stimuli for progressive and visionary concepts, and continues to expand the accompanying programme accordingly. Next yearʼs event will specifically focus on the topics of circular economy, saving resources, digital technology and product safety. Outside exhibition times, too, interpack's digital communication platform Tightly Packed keeps its finger on the pulse and continues to offer information on new developments, best practices and trends.
Uelzena Group: record turnover in 2021 despite challenges
With a group turnover of EUR 766 m in 2021, Uelzena Group has been able to build on the positive business development of pre-pandemic years.
Polo del Gusto to acquire British luxus chocolatier Rococo Chocolates
Polo del Gusto, a subholding from Illy’s group dedicated to food businesses other than coffee, has announced the acquisition of a third chocolate society, after Domori and Prestat: Rococo Chocolates.
The premium company, founded in 1983 by Chantal Coady, is famous for its elegant creativity of its packaging and the sophistication of its chocolates. The operation, which’s economic terms haven’t been divulgated, was finalized through Prestat, that has taken over the brand and three other shops in London. Rococo has a sales volume on annual base of around GBP 4 m with five stores in central London.
“The acquisition was offered to us and we have decided to take the opportunity, since in Rococo we have seen two crucial aspects: on one hand the important fundamentals that have brought the company on the verge of profitability, despite the difficult cycle of the last two years, on the other the chance of integration in the rest of the group,” said Micaela Illy. The niece of group owner Riccardo Illy has been responsible for the management of Prestat as CEO since 2021.
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG announces the date of the CEO change. As already communicated in March 2022, Dr Dieter Weisskopf is handing over his position as Group CEO to Dr Adalbert Lechner. The handover will take place on October 1, 2022.
After a successful 27-year career in the Group Management of Lindt & Sprüngli – including six years as Group CEO – Weisskopf has decided to step down from his position. He was elected to the Board of Directors at the 124th Annual General Meeting on April 28, 2022, and will thus continue to contribute his many years of experience to the Group. Lechner, longstanding CEO of the German subsidiary, and member of the Group Management joined the Lindt & Sprüngli Group in 1993.
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG appoints Daniel Studer as member of the Group Management as of September 1, 2022. Studer started his career 19 years ago at the Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland subsidiary, where he held various leadership roles in sales, followed by the position of Head of International Sales at the Group’s headquarters. In 2009, he was appointed to Country Manager of Lindt & Sprüngli Mexico. Two years later, he transferred to the USA, where he was first appointed VP Sales and then CEO of Lindt & Sprüngli USA in 2016.
Barry Callebaut sources sustainable vanilla and cocoa from Madagascar
A pioneering initiative to improve the livelihoods of vanilla farmers in Madagascar focused on developing cocoa as a supplemental source of income, started by Barry Callebaut and Prova in 2016, is being expanded.
Vanilla farmers in Madagascar are heavily dependent on vanilla prices. When the price is low, many of them struggle to make ends meet. In order to diversify and stabilize their income streams, Prova and Barry Callebaut, supported by the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), have teamed up to support vanilla farmers in introducing cocoa trees on their farm, providing training to improve the productivity and quality of both vanilla and cocoa while also funding and supporting local communities through social, health and education programmes.
As part of their Forever Chocolate strategy to make sustainable chocolate the norm, Barry Callebaut are committed to having 100 % sustainable ingredients in all their products by 2025. The project they started in 2016 in Bemanevika/Madagascar has proven to be a highly successful driver of 100 % sustainable vanilla. Despite the challenges created by tropical cyclone Enawo in 2017, volatile vanilla prices and a global pandemic, the collaboration with Prova has exceeded all expectations and a second phase is now being launched.
Van Genechten Packaging and Schoepe Display form a strategic alliance
Van Genechten Packaging and Schoepe Display bolster their competence area in POS placements with a strategic partnership.
Van Genechten Packagingʼs core business is innovative packaging made of cardboard and corrugated board for branded products. The company’s product range has included creative and eye-catching secondary placements for its customers since 2020. Schoepe Display offers a complex range of services related to the development, production and logistics of high-quality short-term displays made of cardboard and corrugated board for POS placements. Their cooperation brings together inventiveness, professionalism in development, production and logistics in Germany and beyond. Both companies attach great importance to a strong customer orientation, innovation and sustainability.
This alliance offers brand owners efficient and attractive cardboard packaging, promotional packs and all kinds of innovative POS solutions all under one roof. The two companies’ combined creativity and know-how will form a unique design and development team. The added benefit for brand owners: with today’s scarcity of resources, they can work with partners who distinguish themselves through both resource-optimized concepts and reliability in deliveries.
Hochdorf Group reports CFO change
Nanette Haubensak, Chief Financial Officer of the Hochdorf Group, is to leave the company at her own request during the second half of 2022.
Nanette Haubensak has been Chief Financial Officer and a member of the group management since 29 June 2020. Gerhard Mahrle will join the company on 4 July and work alongside Nanette Haubensak until he officially takes over the role of CFO on 15 August. Ms Haubensak will oversee the publication of the half yearly financial statements on 8 August and will leave the company during the second half of the year following a hand-over period.
B.T. Sweet names new CEO and expands advisory board
FoodTech start-up B.T. Sweet names Yishai Potack as its new CEO. He will lead efforts to take company’s Cambya natural sweetener to the next level of its go-to-market plans.
Mr Potack joins B.T. Sweet armed with two decades of extensive experience in leading the business, marketing, and product development needs of global medical device innovators. He previously held senior roles at ReWalk Robotics, Covidien Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies Group and EyeYon Medical.
Simultaneously, the company has added industry consultant Mervyn De Souza, Ph.D. to a key position on its advisory board. Mr De Souza has enjoyed a long and accomplished career leading high-performing teams in developing growth strategies at multinationals Cargill, Sensient Technologies and Tate & Lyle.
Mars Wrigley joins with Perfect Day to craft chocolate with microflora-based dairy proteins
Confectionery giant Mars Wrigley has unveiled a new eco-centric chocolate, CO2COA, in a partnership with animal-free dairy protein innovator Perfect Day.
The company details, that the name CO2COA is a “thoughtful and playful” way to pay homage to its Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in product sourcing. The innovation shall provide consumers with a delicious earth-friendly, animal-free, and lactose-free chocolate experience.
US-based Perfect Day’s proteins are identical to those found in cow’s milk. However, instead of being sourced from the animal, the dairy proteins are created through a fermentation process similar to the manufacture of vitamins and amino acids. By adding genes essential to producing milk protein to trichoderma – a type of microflora – the dairy flora ferments plant sugar into whey and casein.
Perfect Day’s ingredient is marketed as the “world’s first nature-identical dairy protein, without any animal inputs”. The company’s whey protein from Perfect Day is free of lactose, hormones, antibiotics and cholesterol. In addition, it contains 25 % more protein, 75 % less sugar and less saturated fat. Since Mars’ CO2COA uses Perfect Day animal-free dairy protein, it is entirely free from lactose and cholesterol. It is also wrapped in paper-based packaging.
Aetna Group acquires packaging specialist Meypack
Aetna Group, a leading producer of end-of-line packaging systems, has acquired the German company Meypack Verpackungssystemtechnik GmbH.
The acquisition is part of Aetna Group strategic plan to grow externally, to establish a production presence in countries with a manufacturing vocation, and to expand the product range in the food and personal care sector. Meypackʼs internationalization will be further enriched by taking advantage of the presence of Aetna Group subsidiaries in the main countries of the world, so that the Italian 1670-employee company will be able to increase its penetration in German-speaking markets.
