SUPPLIER NEWS

Lesaffre’s North American Corporate Office in Milwaukee, WI is the first location in the world to achieve certification to AIB International’s new Pandemic Prepared Certification for Corporate Offices. Achieving this certification demonstrates that Lesaffre has prioritized employee health, well-being, and safety, which will build employee confidence and support for their return to working in the office. Based on the Pandemic Prepared Certification for Food and Beverage Supply Chains that was launched in July 2020, this new certification is rooted in a clear, actionable, and rigorous standard developed with input from the latest COVID-19 information and industry best practices.

BENEO has invested half a million Euro in waterway transport to reduce its reliance on road transport. The project, which has included increasing unloading capacity at the company’s rice starch plant in Wijgmaal, Belgium, will enable BENEO to transport two-thirds of its cargo by barge each year. This will reduce carbon emissions associated with the inbound transport of rice from the harbor to the plant by 20 percent annually.

After a transition period of several months, Richard Kelsey will take over the CFO tasks at Constantia Flexibles following Tanja Dreilich, on April 1. Tanja Dreilich left the company by the end of 2020 to take on new professional challenges. Kelsey joined the company in October 2010 as group head of M&A, subsequently assuming the responsibility of Group Controlling & Accounting for three years before taking on the role of SVP finance consumer division on July 1, 2020. Since October 2020, he has been interim CFO of Contantia Flexibles.

The Bühler global application center network is up and running. During the last 12 months, Bühler has become particularly adept at performing trials with customers, either virtually or within a carefully managed “bubble.” By utilizing trial data capture, the Bühler Insights platform, remote visualization and video streaming, and on-site analytical labs, the Bühler teams work together with customers to plan, run, and adjust trials in real-time. Products are then sent for evaluation at customer sites. The virtual trials are so efficient that Bühler will maintain this option even when travel is easier again.

More than ever, consumers are demanding that companies change the way they do business, increase transparency, and take an active role in addressing social, cultural, and environmental issues. Companies that engage in active corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts consider the way they operate to address environmental and social issues, with the aim of benefiting both in the process. Flavorchem and Orchidia Fragrances recently announced the release of their first annual Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Report. This global initiative follows the highest standards of guidance set forth by EcoVadis, Sedex, and the IFRA-IOFI Charter, chosen for their universal recognition, as well as their depth and breadth of experience in flavors and fragrance industries.

Dawn Foods has announced the acquisition of JABEX, a family-owned manufacturer specializing in high-quality fruit-based products for the bakery industry, headquartered in Bielsko-Biala, Poland. This acquisition expands Dawn Foods’ global manufacturing footprint and strengthens its operations and supply chain in Central and Eastern Europe. It also creates opportunities to better serve and meet the needs of Dawn’s customers in this region.

Kerry has released findings from its latest research on North American consumer attitudes, behaviors, and purchasing choices as they relate to food safety, sustainability, and preventing food waste. While consumer purchasing remains very much centered on the most basic need of nutrition, the research confirms that consumers are shopping more consciously and that they are seeking out food that is perceived as natural. Plus, with COVID-19 shining a light on the complex nature of global food supply chains, consumer concern with the safety of food is escalating.

ADM has announced that its Board of Directors has nominated Ted Colbert, president and CEO of global services at Boeing, to stand for election to the board at the company’s upcoming Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on May 6, 2021. ADM has regularly been recognized for the diversity of its board and executive leadership, including by The Rising Tides, a consulting firm focused on improving the workplace for women and minorities, and the National Association of Corporate Directors, which both have cited ADM’s exemplary board leadership practices and efforts to promote greater diversity and inclusion.

Lecico, an international supplier of lecithins and phospholipids for the food, infant nutrition, animal feed, and health and nutrition markets, has announced an exclusive distribution partnership agreement with Ciranda for the North American market. Ciranda, Hudson, WI, supplies brands and manufacturers with a wide range of certified-organic and non-GMO ingredients, sourced from around the world, with a focus on sustainable supply and fair trade practices.

Mactac, a LINTEC company, announced that it has acquired Duramark Products Inc., previously known as Ritrama USA. The acquisition consists of the company’s Minneapolis and Moore, SC facilities, including its new world-class coaters and advanced automation technologies. Both locations will be rebranded under the Mactac name, creating one of the largest, most-diversified pressure-sensitive adhesive suppliers in North America.