02 Highlights National International People - Emsland Group

EMSLAND NEWS 

MAGAZINE FOR CLIENTS, STAFF AND SUPPLIERS I EDITION 6/2010 

Highlights 

National International People 

06 16 22 24 

Innovations with 

amylopectin 

potato starches 

10 years of 

Emsland Food GmbH 

FI Europe 2009 

in Frankfurt 

New recruits in 

Food team 

02

Contents 

Foreword 

03 Hubert Eilting 

Michael Schonert 

Highlights 

04 Cost reduction through multifunctional n-OSA starch 

05 Innovative solution on a natural basis 

05 Emfix® K1 – our new ”Clean-Label“ starch 

06 Innovations with amylopectin potato starches 

08 Emplak® – new starch-based liquid adhesives 

09 Impressive natural flocculation agent for waste water 

treatment 

10 Innovative products for strong building materials 

National 

11 A partnership opens up new perspectives 

12 Complex developments on commodities market 

13 Certification keep ensuring optimum quality 

14 Increased service orientation through technical 

innovations 

15 Emsland-Aller Aqua expands with pea protein 

16 A success story – 10 years of Emsland Food GmbH 

17 Trend-setting environmental protection measures 

19 Optimisation of Supply Chain Management 

19 Advisory skills as a factor for success 

20 Ensuring high raw material quality through innovative 

contract drafting 

International 

21 The Emsland Group presented itself at the 

Snackex 2009 

21 Latin american symposium for the adhesives and 

construction industry 

22 FI Europe 2009 – International Fair in Frankfurt 

23 First-time ever participation at the Dubai fair 

23 Website of the Emsland Group presents its ”new look“ 

People 

24 New recruits in Food Teams 

24 Farewell, Hans Einert 

25 One day for getting to know working life 

25 Seven minutes by bicycle ... 

26 A short look back 

26 Elections for new workers‘ council at the Emsland Group 

27 Jubilees 

Imprint 

27 Imprint 

02

Foreword 

Dear business partners! 

Dear staff! 

Over the past 12 months the Emsland Group 

has survived one of its hardest tests on its 

path into the free market. The current issue 

of Emsland News reports on important events 

and items for shareholders, suppliers, staff, 

agencies, customers, friends and followers of 

the Emsland Group. 

The continuing weak markets for our 

products in 2009 left us no other choice 

than to expand the strategy of sustainable 

cost reduction in all company fields initiated 

at the end of 2008. And it was not only 

the large cost items which were taken into 

consideration: all expenditure was analysed 

for savings potential. The cost reductions 

achieved were, and will be, established for 

the whole Group. We would like to thank all 

staff and partners who participated in this 

project, especially our raw material suppliers 

and shareholders. 

On completion of all projects, we will have 

reduced the cost basis of the Emsland Group 

by more than 10 %, which is of essential 

importance for potato starch especially with 

regard to the transfer into the free market. 

Another large field of activity was, and 

continues to be, the streamlining of all 

processes in the Emsland Group, with the 

aim of implementing a new ERP system. We 

have already completed the first important 

steps, such as e. g. streamlining of product 

labelling and the product portfolio, and 

the reduction of finished products. In line 

with analysis conducted, we now have to 

complete the formulation of target structures 

and select tools for their implementation. 

We would like to ask for the support 

of all those involved in the Emsland Group 

supply chain in order to generate as high an 

overall benefit for all as possible. 

Looking back at the first months of the year 

2010 we can see a general trend of recovery 

in our markets. This is linked with the marked 

increase in sales to secure our market position, 

and the possibility of a return to generally 

cost-covering prices. Our common objective 

must be to further expand the market and 

price position achieved, in order to create a 

solid basis for the coming business years and 

the free market as of 2012. 

To ensure this development, we continue 

to rely on the excellent cooperation of well 

trained staff, agencies, customers, suppliers 

and service providers, supported by our raw 

material suppliers and shareholders. We can 

only mange the tasks ahead if we cooperate 

together towards our common goals. 

We now welcome you to take a look at the 

news of the Emsland Group, and remain, yours 

sincerely, 

Hubert Eilting Michael Schonert 

03

Cost reduction through 

multifunctional n-OSA starch 

Newly developed n-OSA starches from Emsland Group satisfy with ideal 

product features and offer cost reductions up to 40 %. 

Egg products serving as emulsifying agents 

are still a key ingredient in bakery production. 

However, these are subject to constant price 

fluctuations and contribute a high degree 

of calories and cholesterol to the finished 

product. These problems can be solved 

by using n-OSA starch Emfix® K02, which 

demonstrates excellent emulsifying characteristics 

and can be used for bakery products 

and others. Emfix® K02 imitates the process 

characteristics of egg products, simultaneously 

generating a vital structure and texture e.g. 

in cakes and muffins. 

One huge advantage of Emfix® K02 compared 

with egg products is that it permits bakeries 

to produce their goods cheaper and with far 

less cholesterol, or even cholesterol-free. 

Products demonstrate a creamy texture just 

like traditional bakery goods using eggs, 

an improved storage life and a mouthfeel 

comparable to that of yolk-containing products. 

These advantages further include a 

simplified production process and more costefficient 

starch as compared to egg products; 

both lead to lower production costs. Emfix® 

K02 is also suitable for use in gluten-free 

formula bakery goods. 

Another newly developed item for the bakery 

industry is our Emjel® EP Cream aimed 

especially at bakery cream production. The 

product generates improved storage stability 

and increases cream sheen. Using Emjel® EP 

Cream also permits optimising processing 

methods and improves baking stability. 

Alongside the cost-saving potential of replacing 

egg products, Emfix® K02 can also reduce 

production costs by replacing casein. This may 

be implemented efficiently within specialty 

foods production, but can also constitute an 

important feature in analogue cheese production. 

Another application field of cost 

reduction through casein replacement would 

be specialist beverage applications, using 

Emfix® K02 as an emulsifying agent e.g. in 

sweet liqueurs. In all application fields, casein 

content may be reduced by some 30 to 50 %, 

leading to cost savings of up to 40 %. 

04 Highlights National International People

Innovative 

solution on a 

natural basis 

New process reduces acrylamide 

content in finished products by up 

to 70 %. 

As early as 2002, Swedish scientists have 

furnished proof of acrylamide content in 

foodstuffs. Acrylamide is regarded as carcinogenic, 

which – among other factors – 

caused end producers to undertake reducing 

measures. 

Harmful acrylamide develops in foodstuffs 

which contain carbohydrates, e. g. starch 

and especially reducing sugars, as well as 

the amino acid asparagine which is a protein 

component. Another precondition for the 

formation of acrylamide is preparation by 

deep-frying, baking, roasting, grilling or 

frying at temperatures exceeding 120 °C, 

with the acrylamide content rising rapidly 

when temperatures exceed 175 °C. This 

occurs mainly in potato and cereal products, 

especially with French fries, hash browns, 

fried potatoes and potato chips, but also 

with corn-based taco chips, corn flakes, 

pop corn, bread, crispbread, rusks, cookies, 

pretzels, coffee and cocoa powder and fish 

finger breading. 

To support our customers and in com - 

pliance with our company philosophy ”using 

nature to create“, Emsland Group developed 

new product solutions on a natural 

basis with various partners. Several systems 

to reduce acrylamide were thus generated. 

We are now able to block those components 

responsible for forming acrylamide 

by using a special processing method. The 

acrylamide content of the finished product 

is thus reduced by some 40 to 70 %, without 

compromising flavour or appearance of the 

finished product. Consequently, the method 

may be applied in practical operation 

without influencing product features. The 

end producer does not need to implement 

changes in production. The possibility of a 

”Clean-Label“ declaration remains for end 

customers. Everything is ready for implementing 

an acrylamide reducing solution. 

Emfix ® K1 – our new ”Clean Label“ starch 

Healthy, environmentally responsible food has become a trend – this offers 

many application possibilities for our new modified starch Emfix® K1. 

A large percentage of consumers increasingly 

value features such as ”natural food“, 

”sustainability“, and ”Clean Label“. Of course 

Emsland Group is active in this field and has 

reacted to this trend by developing our new 

innovative product Emfix® K1. 

tations during long, intensive test series, 

Emsland Group has finally optimized ”Clean 

Label“ starch Emfix® K1 for production. This 

is a modified starch which is obtained solely 

through influencing the physical process, 

without any chemical modifications. 

innovation within a surprisingly short time. 

Starch treated in this manner is now used 

e. g. in a leading global food company’s 

instant soups. It also offers a broad range of 

application options in convenience food and 

frozen foods. For ”Clean Label“ starch soluble 

in cold water, our proven starch Emjel® E70 

remains as available 

as ever. 

Searching for a perfect balance between 

necessary functionality, the legal framework 

and customer’s economic expec- 

Intense, focussed exchange between Product 

Development, Process Control and 

Market Research helped to realise this 

Highlights National International People 

05

Innovations with amylopectin potato starches 

Amylopectin potatoes offer new opportunities to the potato starch industry and farmers. 

Starting from October 2010 a crop of 

1.000 tons of amylopectin potatoes and about 

200 tons of amylopectin potato starch (APS) 

will be available for product development 

and market introduction. These potatoes 

are not genetically modified, but produced 

through classical breeding, and are high in 

amylopectin: we call them HAP (high-amylopectin) 

potatoes. 

Starch from regular potatoes is a mixture of 

two components – amylopectin and amylose. 

Both are polymers built from glucose 

units, but they differ dramatically in their 

physicochemical characteristics: amylopectin 

thickens and amylose gels. For many 

industrial applications, only the thickening 

amylopectin is required, while the gelling 

amylose is not used since it interferes in a 

number of applications. Nevertheless, the 

separation of amylopectin and amylose 

is energy intensive and not economically 

viable. In most industrial processes today, 

starch is first chemically modified to 

reduce the tendency of the amylose to gel. 

This process consumes chemicals, water 

and energy. 

Regular potato starch 

Amylopectin 

potato starch 

Casted films from different starches 

Waxy 

corn starch 

Starch potatoes and starch 

production 

The European potato starch industry is regulated 

by a quota system until 2012 and 

produces 80 % of the world’s potato starch. 

Annual production in the EU is at about 

1.95 million tons. Potato starch production 

supports rural development. Starch factories 

are located in agricultural areas and primarily 

owned by farmer co-operatives. 

The potato starch industry faces significant 

changes and is therefore looking for 

opportunities to increase competitiveness. 

Following WTO negotiations, export 

refunds will be reduced and EU Common 

Agricultural Policy will reduce agricultural 

subsidies. Starch industries will be forced 

to partly compensate this loss of farmer’s 

income. 

Amylopectin obtained from potatoes developed 

with the aid of classical breeding is 

a high value product for many food and 

technical applications. Based on the unique 

properties of the product, industry leaders 

expect the total potato amylopectin market 

to be a significant part of the potato starch 

market whilst significantly increasing added 

values. Amylopectin opens an interesting 

opportunity to the potato starch industry 

and farmers. 

Food applications 

In food applications the use of 

amylopectin potato starch (APS) has 

the following features: 

· 

· 

· 

· 

· 

· 

High viscosity 

Clarity, stabilized foods have a 

smooth and glossy appearance 

Clean flavor, potato amylopectin 

allows taste to shine through 

Excellent creamy mouthfeel 

New textures and highly expanded 

(snack) products 

Easier handling during processing. 

Lower gelatinization temperature, 

fast hydration, quicker cooking times 

and lower energy input 

Liquid dairy, soups and sauces 

In this segment of heat-treated products 

(packed in bottles, pots, packs or cans) 

often cross-linked stabilized starches are 

applied. In general a smooth texture, shiny 

surface and ‘short’ character are preferred. 

Starches influence these properties significantly. 

Potato starches often result in less shiny 

products since large swollen granules cause 

granularity. During sterilization crosslinked 

amylopectin granules will fragment 

into particles that are big enough to build 

viscosity. This results in viscous products 

with good clarity and a smooth, glossy 

appearance. 

Bakery creams and fruit fillings 

In bakery creams and fruit fillings functionalities 

such as clarity, texture, baking-, 

freeze- and storage stability play an important 

role in the choice for a specific starch 

derivative. 

APS results in products with high vis cosity, 

a pleasant mouthfeel, excellent stability 

without masking of flavors. In standard 

bakery cream, formulations containing 

expensive alginates can be reduced without 

sacrificing baking stability or freeze /thaw 

stability. 

Confectionery 

Thin cooking starches are used as binders 

or gelling agents in soft confectionery and 

liquorices. Thin cooking products based on 

amylopectin result in confectionery with 

different chewing characteristics. The improved 

stability of the cookingmass can be 

an advantage in specific applications. 

Meat and fish products 

The combination of high swelling capacity 


and low gelatinization temperature make 

potato starches ideal for formed and whole 

meat products. 

APS is successfully applied in these segments, 

in which it improves texture and 

spreadability and reduces cooking losses. 

Low calorie fried foods 

Low fat French fries from amylopectin 

potatoes are prepared by deep-frying, 

frying or baking in fat or fat substitutes. 

These products contain up to 30 % less fat 

than usual products of this kind. 

Coatings 

Just like waxy maize starches, amylopectin 

derivatives improve the texture of food 

coatings. This results in products that are 

soft and crunchy with good expansion in, 

for instance, coated nuts. 

Noodles 

Instant fried noodles based on amylopectin 

potato starch allow rehydration 

at lower temperatures. Both rehydration 

speed and noodle textures are improved 

dramatically. 

Snacks 

Due to the absence of amylose, new textures 

can be realized. In snacks amylopectin 

based starches result in crispy products 

with unique ‘melt in the mouth’ characteristics. 

Technical applications 

In technical applications, the use of 

amylopectin potato starch has the 

following features: 

· 

· 

· 

· 

High viscosity 

Good water binding capacity 

High stability at lower substitution 

levels 

Improved clarity in solution and 

coating layers 

High quality, glossy paper coating 

Oxidized APS can partly replace latex in 

coating formulations for printing paper or 

any paper or board where gloss is an important 

quality parameter. Coating starches 

in general improve printability, reduce dust 

and improve runability on high-speed paper 

machines. 

AKD dispersions for surface 

sizing of paper 

In AKD (alkyl-ketene-dimer)-dispersions, 

starch is used as a stabilizer of sizing formulations 

for paper. The cationic charge 

contributes to retention of dispersion particles. 

Their charge and viscosity level are 

custom-made to satisfy specific customer 

needs. 

AKD-dispersions with amylopectin derivatives 

have better storage stability and higher 

AKD concentration. 

Additives for plaster and 

cement mortar 

Hydroxypropylated amylopectin is used 

as an additive for sprayable concrete. The 

l iquid formulations show reduced dust, less 

rebound, less slump of fresh renders on 

vertical substrates and an increase in water/ 

powder ratio, which results in reduced 

sensitivity to over-dosing of water. 

In regular concrete, amylopectin derivatives 

basically work as a thickener. A high 

water-cement ratio can be used without 

loss of green strength, creating a stable 

mix and causing the cement to harden 

better. The blocks retain their shape and 

gain in strength. Since this allows the 

amount of cement to be reduced, the 

total cost of production decreases considerably. 

Because the volume of water is less critical, 

it is much easier to control the manufacturing 

process. Moreover, the moulds can 

be removed sooner, and less vibration and 

tamping are needed. As a result, production 

speed increases. 

Continued on page 8 


07

Continued from page 7 

Water based adhesives 

APS is an excellent starting material for 

the production of environmentally friendly, 

water-based adhesive formulations. Compared 

to regular adhesives, which are based 

on maize, waxy maize and potato starch, the 

amylopectin based adhesives show improved 

adhesion, viscosity stability, clarity, higher 

water retention, and excellent rheological 

properties. 

Applications are adhesive for cigarette 

p a per, gummed stamps and labels, wallpaper 

and posters/billboards, cardboard, bookbinding, 

paper sacks, paper and cardboard, 

tube winding and laminating and lining. 

Protective colloid for emulsion 

polymerization reactions 

APS and its derivatives are especially 

advan tageous protective colloids for use 

in conducting emulsion polymerization 

reactions. 

Emplak ® – new starch-based liquid adhesives 

Emplak® stands for the successful introduction of an innovative product series of liquid adhesives. 

Currently, the Emplak® product range 

includes a lamination adhesive for tray 

packing, displays, cartons, sealing bags 

or tube windings and a bottom paste for 

paper bags. 

Emplak® is based on modified potato 

starch and is free from polyvinylacetate. 

With a viscosity between 3.000 – 4.000 

mPa, it can be processed on all inline and 

sheet laminators and replaces synthetic 

dispersions. 

Within the framework of the Reach Regulations 

All Emplak ® products are: 

Emplak® is a trendsetting alternative for synthetics 

in food packaging. So far Emsland Group 

· 100 % degradable and renewable is the only starch producer which supplies liquid 

· solvent and plasticizer-free 

lamination glue to the packaging industry. 

· free from volatile organic compounds 

· 100 % recyclable and water-soluble The Emplak® lamination product range is available 

in 1.100 kg IBC containers or as full truck 

loads. The bottom paste version is delivered in 

30 kg pails. 

Liquid glue plant 

For any further information do not hesitate 

to contact our Technical Service Manager 

Mr. Andreas Wahlenmaier 

Mobil: +49 (0)1 72/5 30 85 14 

E-Mail: awahlenmaier@emsland-group.de 


Impressive natural flocculation agent for waste 

water treatment 

Successful test of F 73 11 compared to conventional synthetic flocculation agents. 

In the course of the Hamburg harbour silt 

flocculation project supported by FNR, highcation 

liquid starch F 73 11 proves itself the 

equal of synthetic products as regards technology 

and pricing. Flocculation agents may 

be natural or synthetic-based and are used in 

solid-liquid separating processes. In watery 

suspensions they form flakes together with 

non-soluble suspended solids and colloidal 

dirt particles, which are then separated from 

the water through sedimentation, flotation 

or filtration processes. 

Usually, synthetic polymers are used during 

treatment of mud and silt, since these are 

more widely available commercially at the 

moment than naturally produced agents, 

and can be rather easily optimised for specific 

applications. Synthetic polymers based 

e. g. on polyacrylamide are, however, not 

readily biodegradable and may contain toxic 

monomer remainders. The agent F 73 11, 

however, is produced using harmless, renewable 

potato starch. 

Research results prove that starch derivates 

are especially suited for the first step of 

harbour silt treatment which requires large 

quantities of flocculation agent. The synthetic 

agent quantity which is usually required 

could be reduced by one half. This project 

laid the foundation of utilizing starch-based 

flocculation agent F 73 11 for other applications 

as well. 

F 73 11 is now tested for long-term use in 

the Emsland Group’s own sewage treatment 

plant as a commercially and ecologically 

sensible alternative; it is further being tested 

as a flocculation agent for drilling mud in 

tunnel drilling, and its suitability for flocculating 

semi-liquid manure is tested as well. 

For this application, semi-liquid manure 

generated in livestock farming is treated 

with F 73 11, the flocculated solid contents 

are then ready for transportation and can 

be utilized in biogas plants. F 73 11 is produced 

at the new Emsland Group liquid 

glue plant. 


09

Innovative products for strong 

building materials 

The Emsland Group focuses increasingly on innovative solutions for the 

construction industry. 

Next time you sit on your toilet, please take 

a good look around. Probably every wall you 

see contains potato starch - maybe even 

from the Emsland Group. Potato starch is 

part of the mortar used to fix the tiles and 

is also contained in plaster, gypsum mortar 

and gypsum board. Maybe the glazing 

of the tiles was also made with starch of 

the Emsland Group, and sometimes even 

concrete is made with starch. 

Modified starches have been used since the 

seventies for a number of building applications. 

These starches give the unique property 

to mortar that it can be mixed and applied 

easily. Once applied on a wall, the mortar 

does not sag any more. Heavy tiles can be 

fixed on a wall without sagging thanks to the 

properties of modified potato starch. All over 

the world almost 20.000 tons of modified 

starch are used for this application alone. 

The Emsland Group has already been 

selling modified starches for this application 

for more than 20 years. However our 

market share in this market is rather low 

today. Therefore Emsland decided to put 

more focus on the building materials markets. 

The use of modified potato starches 

is optimal in this segment and, at the 

same time, this market is very attractive 

for the Emsland Group. The profit margin 

of starch products is much higher 

here than in the field of other technical 

applications. 

All new building materials additives will 

need long successful testing in practice 

before their approval. Therefore, it takes a 

very long time until new starch products 

are introduced in the market, but the same 

are then not easily replaced by competitor 

products. 

The world-wide marketing of these special 

starch products contributed to the growing 

success of the company. We are currently 

developing new products, together with a 

number of partners, that will give us a position 

in the market ahead of our competitors. 


A partnership opens up new perspectives 

Both companies profit from Emsland Group’s involvement in Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung GmbH. 

In September 1970 the first products left 

the Hagenow production line. Today, 40 

years later, the Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung 

GmbH is a leading producer of 

potato-based dry foods and supplies food 

retailers in Germany and Europe, wholesale 

food distributors and well-known catering 

companies. 

The company was established as a people’s 

(i.e. state-owned) enterprise and acted as 

sole producer of french fries in the former 

German Democratic Republic. Five members 

of the management performed a management 

buy-out in 1990, three of whom still 

actively manage the company’s operations as 

partners. During this acquisition, the entire 

company was restructured and repositioned. 

Business considerations put a stop to french 

fries production, and the company started 

specialising in potato-based dry foods. With 

a staff of 90 and just a few customers, the 

path down towards market economy began. 

Today, 240 highly motivated employees produce 

and package some 35,000 t finished 

goods in all varieties. The range extends 

from 1-serving stand-up pouches for snack 

foods up to 1,000 kg in Big-Bag packaging. 

Customers are based mainly in Western and 

Eastern Europe. 

For almost three years there has been a 

connection to Emsland Group through a 

participation in Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung. 

A strong partnership grew between 

two finishing companies with different 

strengths and focuses. Targeting food 

processing industry customers, an enlarged 

product range has become available which 

has been very well received by customers of 

both sales organisations. Cooperation will 

become even more intense in the future. 

New options have developed in the core 

business of the Hagenow potato processing 

company. A jointly developed product has 

already been successfully launched, which 

is an instant puree on potato granulate 

basis used predominantly in restaurants 

and canteen kitchens. The product’s quality 

delighted cooks immediately, so that in a 

very short time, national listings were transformed 

into sales. Currently, the product is 

available not only as a branded product, but 

also as a store brand of well-known wholesale 

companies. 

All this proves that connecting these two 

companies has been the right thing to do. 

Both organisations complement each other 

perfectly. Besides producing jointly developed 

goods, new sales channels have opened 

up for products from Hagenow. The retail 

organisation of the Emsland Group comprises 

the entire product range for retail and wholesale. 

In this way, several contacts for export 

activities were established. And vice versa: 

products from the Emsland Group portfolio 

may be accessed to permit development and 

introduction of new goods, and to support 

reworking and enhancing existing goods. 

In this connection, Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung 

is very well positioned. Concentration 

and globalisation, highly exacting 

customer demands on product safety and 

quality combined with new, innovative 

products represent the challenges to be met 

in years to come. Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlung 

enters this future confidently and 

more powerful than ever, alongside their 

strong partner the Emsland Group. 

Retail goods are mainly produced, but also 

goods in bulk containers for restaurants and 

products for the food processing industry. 

Brands produced in Hagenow include 

”Mecklenburger Küche“ with over 20 products, 

and the label ”Kartoffelland“. Quality, product 

safety and of course natural potato flavour 

have been success factors in these last few 

years. Consequently, the company became 

the industry leader among store brands. For 

many years, customers such as Aldi, Kaufland 

and many others have been depending on 

quality from Mecklenburg. 


11

Complex developments on 

commodities market 

Positive results for potato growers, huge price fluctuations in commodities 

markets and the upcoming EU agricultural policy reform were factors which 

characterized the 2009/2010 campaign. 

Campaign 2009/2010 

For potato growing in 2009, the desired seed 

potatoes were not always available to our 

contract farmers. They had to balance this by 

using potato varieties whose starch content 

has proven slightly lower than the content 

of current starch potatoes. Before harvesting, 

this led to expectations of slightly lower 

average starch content for the 2009/2010 

campaign. 

Contrary to these estimations, the average 

starch content of 2009/1010 proved higher 

than that of former campaigns, mainly owing 

to better weather conditions. Although the 

growth period at the beginning was rather 

dry with an early, warm spring, the rainfall 

necessary for good potato growth came in 

time. Altogether, growing conditions in this 

cultivation year 2009 were quite good. 

Harvesting and storage of potatoes did not 

present significant problems, either, so we 

could process high-quality raw materials. 

The winter of the 2009/2010 campaign 

presented many obstacles to potato delivery 

and production within the plants. In spite of 

difficult road conditions from mid-December 

until campaign end, in-time supply of all 

plants was achieved. 

From the point of view of raw material supply, 

it has been a good 2009/2010 campaign, 

fulfilling potato contract quantity by 100.4 % 

and starch contract quantity by 101.8 %. 

of prices. The 2006 dry period resulted in 

significant price hikes for cereals in agricultural 

commodity markets. Simultaneously, all 

other crops underwent a rapid price increase 

as well. This increase in commodity prices 

continued throughout 2007. From 2008 to 

2009, the financial crisis pushed agricultural 

commodity prices back towards a level that 

partially lay below 2006 values. 

These huge, unpredictable price fluctuations 

had the effect that the Emsland Group, too, 

needed to adapt their commodity prices to 

this level owing to the revenue situation on 

the starch markets. Additional surcharges 

on minimum prices paid in 2007 and 2008 

had to be reduced again for the 2009/2010 

campaign. 

Health Check 

Within the EU Health Checks framework, 

we decided that the hitherto coupled benefit 

component which growers received for 

growing starch potatoes will be decoupled 

beginning with the 2012/2013 campaign. 

Simultaneously, the factory bonus will be 

decoupled as well, and the minimum price 

and production quota for potato starch will 

be discarded. The individual EU member 

states may decide themselves on the financial 

resources set free through implementing 

these decisions. As of 2012, this may lead to 

competition distortions among producers 

of potato starch within the EU for growing 

starch potatoes and processing starch. 

Market for agricultural commodities 

Commodity market developments in the last 

three years were characterised by a huge increase 

followed by an equally huge decrease 

This is why representatives of the Emsland 

Group, employees and growers have early on 

lobbied among politicians to safeguard the 

German potato starch industry will operate 


under the same conditions as their European 

competitors in 2012 as well. Currently a draft 

bill provides that the bonus which has been 

coupled until now will remain directed at 

starch potato growers in 2012. Contrary to 

most other member states, the company 

bonus in Germany will probably become part 

of the so-called Flatrate in 2012. 

Measures to reduce state support for potato 

starch present new challenges to potato 

starch industries, and to their contract 

suppliers as well. As early as the 2012/2013 

campaign only those potato quantities can 

be processed which ensure a starch quantity 

that may be sold in the market for a price 

which balances the loss of EU bonuses. The 

Emsland Group sees itself confronted with 

the task of adapting to this new situation 

with their contract partners as early as 2010, 

and working out contract models suitable for 

post 2011 times. 

Health Check will bring along 

changes, but it also opens up 

new chances. Together with our 

partners, we as the Emsland Group will utilize 

all opportunities to successfully produce and 

market potato starch in 2012 and beyond. 

Our close and trusting cooperation with 

potato growers is a good foundation to 

achieve this. 

Certifications keep ensuring 

optimum quality 

Successful audits in all production sites and a broadening of integrated 

management system through new certification. 

1. New Certificate according to 

DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 

As in years past, central functions at our 

Emlichheim site, production sites and 

Emsland-Stärke Logistics GmbH & Co. KG 

were successfully audited using the matrix 

procedure. Audit criteria according to the 

requirements of new DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 

were satisfied, and the company group 

received a new certificate which remains 

valid until December 2012. 

2. Certification of environmental 

management system per 

DIN EN ISO 14001 

Our Integrated Management System has 

broadened substantially, receiving a Certification 

according to DIN EN ISO 14001 

for the Emlichheim production site and for 

Emsland-Stärke Logistics GmbH & Co. KG. 

Systems Test 2010 confirmed the efficiency 

of the continued development of our environmental 

management system. 

3. Certifications for our food 

products and feedstuffs 

BRC Certifications for our food products according 

to new Version 5 

Having successfully passed the first few audits 

on Version 5 of BRC Standard in 2008, audits 

at all our food sites in Emlichheim, Cloppenburg, 

Kyritz and Wittingen were passed very 

successfully in 2009 with category A. This 

demonstrates our constantly ongoing development 

of QM systems and product safety in 

internal procedures. 

Certifications for feedstuff products 

QS Standard Animal Feed Industry (Germany) 

Our production sites of Emsland-Stärke GmbH 

and Emsland Food GmbH with our integrated 

system and good results in 2009 have again 

been certified for feedstuff products according 

to QS Status I. 

Product Certificatons for kosher and HALAL 

food products 

Product certifications of our food products 

within the respective plants, implemented by 

recognised certification agencies for Kosher 

(e. g. Orthodox Union, OK Kosher, Kashruth 

Department Jerusalem) and HALAL – Halal 

Control e. K. – are constantly maintained, 

and new products are added upon customer 

request. 

4. Energy management/Certificates 

according to § 41 EEG 

Certification of the Emlichheim, Golßen, 

Kyritz and Wietzendorf plants was accomplished. 

Within the certificate, DQS auditors 

confirm they collected all important 

energy-related data and evaluated them. No 

deviations from requirements of § 41 para 1 

No. 4 combined with para. 2 EEG 2009 were 

found. 


13

Increased service orientation 

through technical innovations 

Rapid technical development offers a multitude of perspectives which the 

Emsland Group is using actively. 

The ”Internet of Things“ 

Within the last decades, the IT industry 

underwent sweeping technical developments 

together with a substantial change in cost 

relations, which has turned the costly scientific 

gadget ”data processor“ into the mass 

product ”PC“, thus popularising information 

processing in the truest sense of the word. 

The constant progress in micro electronics 

has become almost a matter of course for 

us, making the vision of a comprehensive 

”Informatisation“ and networking of the 

world around us with its manifold things 

come ever closer to reality. 

It is not only micro processors and storage 

elements which become increasingly more 

powerful, smaller and cheaper; also, wireless 

sensors that communicate with each other 

and capture their surroundings may be integrated 

by the millions into the environment 

or invisibly into objects. In combination with 

new position finding technologies, common 

objects take on a completely new quality – 

objects now locate where a person is, which 

other objects or persons are nearby and what 

has happened to them in the past. From this 

context, certain deductions and new insights 

into the current situation may be generated. 

In the long term, an ”Internet of Things“ 

comes into existence. 

For wireless remote identification, RFID 

(”Radio Frequency Identification“) has already 

established itself as a proven standard. A simplified 

form of RFID technology is commonly 

used in shopping centres and boutiques, 

where it is utilized as anti-theft protection. 

RFID technology is pushed by application 

possibilities in logistics: if goods identify 

themselves each time they pass a warehouse 

gate or lorry loading ramp, an almost seamless 

tracking of commodity flows along the 

entire delivery chain is assured, with no 

manual assistance. 

Through individual identification of RFID 

chips, objects may be linked in real-time to 

the respective data record in the internet or 

a remote database, which permits assigning 

specific information to any object whatsoever. 

This should lead to a huge change 

for the internet as well. 

Tele-Communication 

This is also due to communication tech nology, 

which has registered enormous progress 

with a trend towards increasingly higher 

data rates. Wireless communications have 

become especially relevant for ”Informatisation“. 

Mobile phone networks and wireless 

internet access via WLAN have become common 

standards nowadays. Perfectly working 

telecommunications and IT infrastructure has 

become a decisive factor for success within 

our company, which is why we continuously 

adapt to ever-increasing telecommunication 

and IT requirements. 

”Informatisation“ 

For the Emsland-Group, ”electronic assistance“ 

has become as much a matter of course as 

a wristwatch or mobile phone. We can fully 

rely on our systems and faultlessly functioning 

technology, including the underlaying 

infrastructure. Our systems are continuously 

upgraded and brought up to date so as to 

help fulfil assigned tasks even faster and 

better. 

We keep working on assuring additional 

service through intensive ”Informatisation“ 

and use of information technology, and shall 

continue maximising customer interaction 

efficiency in all fields – from Sales to Service 

and Marketing. Using cutting-edge techni- 


cal and organisational methods, we strive to 

further improve delivery chain management 

and logistics. We have recognised that the 

future belongs to individualised procedures 

based on standardised parts. Our products 

will continue to have an advantage over 

comparable products of our competitors. 

Altogether, an increasing ”Informatisation“ 

should lead to more service focus. 

Armed against 

terrorism 

An EU regulation 

states that ”... all 

companies are required 

by law to 

aid fighting against 

terrorism by reconciling 

the addresses of their 

business partner with sanctions 

lists ...“. To tackle this issue we use a suitable 

software program which automatically 

compares our databases with the respective 

lists. 

As an export based company and logistics 

provider we will handle this investigation 

obligation with the utmost diligence. This 

applies to all business contacts including 

those with German partners. The lists are 

brought up to date regularly. 

Energy management with Business 

Intelligence System (BIS) 

The multifaceted English term ”Intelligence“ 

in this respect is interpreted as information 

which must 

be generated, 

stored, researched, analysed, 

interpreted and distributed 

(”Informatisation“). This includes 

the necessary evaluation and presentation 

functionality for decision making. 

Above all, their implementation became 

necessary within energy management: The 

software tools used until now were not 

able to process the increasing growth of 

data base and the accompanying flood of 

data any longer. With these new functions 

we ensure far more transparency in energy 

consumption data, better control and an 

optimising of energy demand. Consumption 

data of individual plants can be compared 

with each other, which improves the 

general overview and heightens consumer 

consciousness. 

Emsland-Aller Aqua expands with pea protein 

Increasing production volume and strengthening environmental measures in agriculture confirm successful 

implementation of peas as natural raw material. 

Since 2008 Emsland-Aller Aqua has been 

processing yellow feed peas to produce 

high quality pea protein. In the current 

year alone, some 8,000 t of pea protein will 

be produced for seven customers in four 

countries. 

For raw materials, Emsland-Aller Aqua relies 

on experienced suppliers in Brandenburg 

and its neighbouring federal states; it intends 

to remain a dependable processing company 

in times of changing agricultural 

policies. 

Thus, a raw material is processed 

whose advantages 

and cultivation is recognized as 

an environmentally responsible 

production method through 

additional agri-environmental 

measures such as ”environmentally 

friendly cultivation of grain legumes“. 

The company plans to further extend production 

so as to answer growing demand for 

vegetable protein. Next year some 60,000 t 

of peas in various qualities and kinds will be 

processed, which means 3,000 t more protein 

will be available than this year. 


15

A success story – 

10 years of Emsland Food GmbH 

In April 2000 the Emsland Group took over the Cloppenburg and Wittingen 

plants – that was the birth of Emsland Food GmbH. 

At the beginning 10 years ago, there were 

only short news comments in the local 

press reporting on the acquisition of two 

former Bestfoods plants in Cloppenburg 

and Wittingen by Emsland-Stärke GmbH 

in Emlichheim and the following establishment 

of Emsland Food GmbH. Today, both 

companies operate under the umbrella 

brand Emsland Group. 

Bestfoods Deutschland GmbH had discarded 

its potato flake and granulate business. The 

attitude of employees at both sites towards 

the establishment of Emsland Food GmbH 

was reserved and questioning, but also full 

of curiosity, since there has been much 

negative reporting on the consequences of 

other company mergers. Today, the common 

consensus is that the Emsland-Stärke GmbH 

acquisition was the best that could have 

happened then. 

But what persuaded the company to 

take this step 10 years ago? The policy 

of Emsland-Stärke GmbH was orientated 

t o wards growth, but also towards diversification, 

preparing for the times after Brussels 

agricultural subsidies were stopped. Those 

two food plants with non-subsidized potato 

products fitted perfectly into this strategy. The 

plants’ location in the middle of the northern 

German potato belt was decisive as well since 

this ensured steady supply of raw materials. 

Cooperation with farmers in the Cloppenburg 

and Wittingen regions was deepened and put 

on a firm, long-term foundation. Existing 

know-how within the starch plants was used 

to create synergy effects. The existing sales 

network for distribution of starch products 

and starch-based finished products had been 

established throughout the world, and now 

could be used to advantage for distributing 

potato flakes and granulate. 

Emsland Food GmbH developed and prospered 

quickly: To keep up with market 

demand, huge investments had to 

be implemented in several steps at both 

sites since 2001. The potato processing 

capacity in the Wittingen granulate plant 

was almost doubled up to 180,000 tons 

annually, whereas in the Cloppenburg 

potato flake plant was almost tripled to 

Assembling a new bulk loading system 

for silo trailers and bulks 

New tumble screening machine 

New Add-Back Mixer in 

the granulate plant 


some 300,000 tons annually. Considering 

this happened with almost unchanged staff 

numbers, the food plants can certainly be 

proud of this achieve ment. 

In spite of these huge increases in volume, 

Emsland Food GmbH managed to maintain 

and even improve their ability to 

react quickly and flexibly towards customer 

needs, which nowadays represents an 

addi tional asset – and certainly a necessity – 

for long-term customer relationships. This 

entire development was possible only through 

close and quite unbureaucratic cooperation 

with the management and operating 

branches of the holding company, without 

which the food plants certainly would not 

be ”viable“. 

The supplying farmers deserve a mention 

here as well, since they deliver high quality 

raw material to both plants of Emsland Food 

GmbH which is indispensable to fulfil our 

customers’ exacting quality demands. 

Trend-setting environmental protection measures 

Anticipatory environmental protection as a sensible measure to ensure competitiveness. 

”Using nature to create“ – this company 

philosophy is not restricted to developing 

and marketing high-quality products, but 

also refers to the responsibility we bear 

for protecting our environment. Starting 

from this standard, all activities along the 

value chain from development to marketing 

of high-quality starch and fibre products 

and proteins must be continuously 

Reverse osmosis 

scanned and tested as regards the effect they 

have on the environment. Also included are 

measures aimed at constant improvement of 

environmental performance. This approach does 

not only help conserving resources but also saves 

operating costs. We also support our customers 

in all issues concerning the environmentally 

responsible and resource saving design of their 

production procedures. Anticipatory environmental 

protection represents a valuable contribution 

to competitiveness and long-term safeguarding 

of our company. 

With an Environmental Management 

Certification according to DIN EN ISO 14001 

at our Emlichheim site, the Emsland Group has 

taken another step towards implementing our 

integrated management system. During precertification 

preparation, opportunities were 

already recognised and effectively utilized. 

These include: 

· introducing external company 

management 

· implementing the energy management 

task force group 

· structured recording and controlling of 

inevitable waste materials 

· developing an environmental programm 

to reduce immission 

· preventive measures against water 

pollution 

· constructing a new washing site with 

grease separator 

· optimising procedures for handling 

chemicals 

With successful certification those projects 

also receive appreciation which have been 

implemented in the past few years, representing 

an effective contribution to environmental 

protection. 

Continued on page 18 


17

Continued from page 17 

Among these projects is a unique water 

concept which has been adopted as best 

available technology) in the food industry. 

This concept is based upon the water 

cycle management of protein-free potato 

vegetable water and so-called process 

waters from starch extraction. These two 

water flows pass through several process 

steps until they attain a quality which 

exceeds drinking water regulation requirements. 

This permits annual recycling volumes 

amounting to up to 300,000 m³ of 

water. This does not only protect drinking 

water resources, but also reduces waste 

Evaporation 

water volumes. The concept is based upon 

the elements reverse osmosis, evaporation, 

biological treatment and water preparation, 

and has been an established part of procedure 

management since the year 2000. Other 

water and energy saving measures were 

Biological purification 

implemented within the area of starch 

extration and processing. A competent 

team with expertise in technology, energy 

management and environmental protection 

guarantees successful implementation of 

suitable and sustainable measures. 

Raw materials (t) 

Potatoes 887,912.88 

Peas 30,398.00 

Crude starch 8,182.00 

Energy (MWh) 

Electricity 90,294.00 

Steam 91,928.00 

Natural gas 229,772.97 

Water consumption (m 3 /a) 

Process water 1,603.687 

Water from public 14,291 

network supply 

Air emissions (t/a) 

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 

) 27,432.00 

Carbon monoxide (CO) 24.36 

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 18.29 

Head office Emlichheim 

Release into water (t/a) 

Total organic carbon (TOC) 36.49 

Total nitrogen (N) 3.65 

Total phosphor (P) 0.55 

Adsorbable organohalogens (AOX) 0.71 

Chloride (as total Cl) 1,732.45 

Production (t/a) 

Starch 183,561.41 

of which, derivatives 

150,143.49 

Fibres 2,535.32 

Proteins 21,621.73 

By-products 8,892.40 

Pulp 152,157.17 

Protein concentrate 

51,113.00 

PPL 

Other materials used (t/a) 

Auxiliaries and 50,000 

chemicals 

Waste (t/a) 

Organic waste. agr. recycling 56,398.00 

Waste for recycling/disposal 1,357.48 

Filtration and disinfection 

Water cycle management 


Optimisation of Supply Chain Management 

Through intelligent supply chain planning, procedure design at Emsland Group will become even more efficient. 

Successful Supply Chain Management means 

constant optimisation of procedures and 

requires a holistic approach to all activities 

along the value adding chain. Emsland Group 

faces up to this challenge 

Since spring 2009, Emsland Group has been 

working intensively on improving the supply 

chain. At first, work focussed on detailed 

process mapping for all plants. Soon, much 

optimisation potential became apparent. The 

prerequisite for a functioning value adding 

chain is detailed, in-time information on 

customer requirements, capacities, orders 

and inventory. 

To help assigning existing stock more efficiently 

towards specific customer demand, 

in autumn 2009 Emsland Group integrated 

the exact packaging and markings into the 

inventory management system. By reducing 

variation range and standardising packaging 

materials and bag signatures, only standardised 

options based on sales specifications will 

be stocked in future. Thus, stocking will be improved 

and more flexible – customer demand 

will be fulfilled in time through standardised 

options. Individual customer requirements 

will be served in future as well, but these will 

be processed on a per order basis. A tool is 

currently being designed for technical support 

which will calculate a weekly production 

quantity taking into account historical data, 

existing inventory, orders and sales forecasts. 

With this tool and professional cooperation 

between all stakeholders, cost-optimised production 

satisfying customer requirements may 

be ensured. For this, the sales department 

has to rely on timely market information – 

i. e. customer or agency sales planning. 

Status analysis had shown that Emsland 

Group stocks a large number of different 

variations for each sales item. This high 

number is due to different pallet sizes, bags 

and signatures. Quite a few of these variations 

are being stocked for specific individual 

customers only, leading to an oversize 

stock total. 

Advisory skills as factor for success 

Emsland-Aller Aqua satisfies fish farmers globally through quality and well-informed advice. 

With over 40 years’ experience and know-how 

as fish feedstuff producer, Emsland-Aller 

Aqua is a proven partner for fish farming. 

Successful fish farmers in over 30 countries 

rely on Aller Aqua® and Aquavalent® brand 

quality products for a broad range of 

freshwater and marine fish species. 

Next to excellent product quality, good 

advisory skills are key factors contributing to 

the company’s increasing success. Emsland- 

Aller Aqua offers profound knowledge in 

producing environmentally sound, highquality 

feedstuff, based on an in-depth 

knowledge of fish farming technology, fish 

diseases and technical developments in fish 

breeding. 

Participants in R & D work at Emsland-Aller 

Aqua include various universities, institutions, 

veterinarians and fish farmers, who are all 

coordinated by the central R & D department. 

Thus, latest discoveries in technologies, 

therapies and prophylaxis as well as 

reduction of environmental footprint are all 

integrated into product development. This 

know-how is passed on via the consulting 

service enjoyed by our customers, offered 

in Germany by Sales Head Alexander Tautenhahn 

who shares his over 30 years’ experience 

in aquaculture. 


19

Ensuring high raw material quality through 

innovative contract drafting 

Improved drafting of contracts with producers and continuing quality control ensure premium quality of potato 

flakes and granulates. 

The main part of Emsland Food GmbH core 

business lies within the potato-based snack 

industry. Raw material quality is of foremost 

importance within the potato processing 

industry, especially against the background 

of regularly occurring discussions on noxious 

acrylamide found in potato products which 

originates through heat treatment of foodstuffs 

containing reducing sugars and certain 

protein components. Through contract-regulated 

farming and an especially suited breed 

range, Emsland Group is perfectly positioned 

to deliver year-round optimum quality to 

customers. Innovative contract drafting 

with suppliers and constant quality controls 

ensure uniformly high quality of potato 

flakes and granulates. 

Before entering into contracts on delivery of 

potatoes to the Cloppenburg and Wittingen 

plants, Emsland Food GmbH evaluates and 

grades all growers. Afterwards, delivery 

volumes per grower are set. Each transfer 

of a supply contract from one grower to 

another must be approved by the plant 

concerned. Agreements with growers on 

supply quantity, breeds and delivery times 

as well as the ”Announcement of finished 

planting – Meldung über den erfolgten 

Anbau“ all constitute parts of the contract. 

Signing the annual planting and delivery 

contracts are followed by ”Announcement 

of finished planting“ with FLIK No., 

including information on the planted seed 

potatoes. During and after planting, maintaining 

a field database is mandatory which 

is handed in after harvesting for controlling, 

documenting planting data and filing 

purposes. 

Raw material supply 

is organised through 

d irect contact with 

growers. Through regular 

controls of growers 

and fields including 

field controls, storage 

controls and quality 

ranking, we ensure a 

high standard of raw 

material quality for the 

supply of food plants. 

Contract quantities are 

retrieved according to 

production demand, 

using a delivery card. 

The grower receives 

a process slip containing 

all relevant data 

– from potato breed 

to the storage facility 

the potatoes are stored in. During receiving 

inspection, starch content, dirt proportion, 

reducing sugar content and quality are 

determined. Goods will be accepted only if 

all parameters are fulfilled. Sample controls 

on varietal purity are the last step in raw 

material testing. These controls are especially 

important since a surcharge is paid on 

some varieties. 

Vehicles are unloaded under surveillance 

of an Emsland Food GmbH employee. The 

respective data are documented, and after 

the campaign has finished, Emsland Food 

GmbH establishes an internal ranking of all 

growers. This serves as basis for choosing 

growers to supply increased quantities, and 

as criterion for buying surplus quantities. 

The issue ”reducing sugar content“ currently 

represents a central component of supply 

contracts with growers. This parameter is 

tested in each and every delivery. Sugar 

content is determined from freshly pressed 

vegetable water of a defined number of 

potatoes, using a blood sugar meter. The 

refusal limit is fixed at 300 mg/dL. A newly 

established quality program serves as incentive 

to deliver potatoes containing as little 

sugar as possible. 

A seasonally tiered bonus was introduced 

for this purpose. New supplier contracts are 

signed only with those growers who have 

already a proven record of delivering top 

quality as regards reducing sugars. 


The Emsland Group presented 

itself at the Snackex 2009 

At the Snackex, the Emsland Group presented specialist product solutions 

finely tuned to snack industry demands. 

The Snackex trade fair taking place on 8 th 

and 9 th June 2009 in Berlin represents Europe’s 

largest fair for snacks, nuts, chips and many 

other snack articles. Of course, the Emsland 

Group as a global leading supplier of starch, 

flakes and granulates for snack marketbased 

food processing industry was present 

as well. 

Next to well-known and established products, 

Emsland Group also presented innovative 

product solutions e. g. for reducing acrylamide 

or to reduce costs in the snacks sector. 

Our snack experts presented customized 

product solutions and introduced them to 

interested visitors. 

Through its regular presence at national and 

international trade fairs, the Emsland 

Group continues to establish itself 

in the market and increases its 

market share. This is why the 

Emsland Group was also present 

at Snackex in Asia – in Beijing – from 

25 th to 27 th May. And plans for our presence 

at the next trade fair have already been 

completed: The Emsland Group will also 

present itself at the FI Asia in Jakarta from 

29 th September to 1 st October 2010. 

Latin american symposium for the adhesives and 

construction industry 

On 9 th and 10 th December 2009, the Emsland Group held in São Paulo, Brazil, a symposium for the sales territory 

Latin America. 

Marta R. de Quintela, Head of the Sales Office 

of the Emsland Group in Argentina, organised 

this Symposium the main topics of which 

were Emsland Group products for the adhesives 

and construction industry. 

This conference at the Hotel Cesar Business 

Paulista was attended by a total of 14 representatives 

of nine companies – all working as 

agents and re-sellers for the Emsland Group in 

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. 

Dr. Norbert Sdunnus and Dr. Rob Versluijs gave 

lectures on general uses of Emsland Group 

products in the field of adhesives as well as 

specifically on adhesives for 

paper bags and product solutions 

for the oil and building 

materials industry. 

Many of the participants 

in the Symposium used 

the opportunity and visited 

there after also the Drymix 

Conference – organised by 

The International Community 

for Drymix Mortars – which 

was also held on 11 th December 

2009 in São Paulo. 


21

FI Europe 2009 – 

International Fair in Frankfurt 

For the seventh time running, the Emsland Group participated in FI Europe, 

held this year from 17 th to 19 th November, 2009 in its home country Germany. 

”Using nature to cut costs“ was the principle 

governing many of the newly developed 

products shown here, which lead to cost 

cuts for end users. Cost-efficient innovations 

were presented especially within the 

fields bakery goods, cheese analogue and 

snacks, offering natural solutions for the 

food industry. 

The spacious fair booth was well frequented 

during all three days of the fair, and many 

new and potential customers satisfied themselves 

as to our products’ quality. All the 

while, fair visitors took advantage of the opportunity 

to view the Emsland Group Image 

movie being shown on a screen. Visitors were 

offered mini pizzas, coated nuts and other 

snacks so as to verify the excellent flavour 

provided by Emsland Group products. 

The international audience saw Emsland 

Group surrounded by a creatively designed, 

open fair stand which met with enthusiastic 

responses. 

Separate booths resembling potato silos 

permitted talks in privacy to establish many 

new business relationships. Altogether, the 

Emsland Group looks back upon a highly 

successful trade fair and will continue on 

this path in the future. 


First-time ever participation 

in Dubai fair 

The Emsland Group can look back on its first participation at the trade 

fair in Dubai, which was an outstanding success. 

From 21 st to 24 th February 2010 the Gulfood 

Fair was held in Dubai. For the food 

industry, this fair represents a highly interesting 

access point to the Middle East, 

especially as regards snack-based products. 

The familiar professional fair booth 

of the Emsland Group presented innovative 

new products aimed at the entire food 

industry, with a certain focus on snack 

food industry. 

Due to recent developments, the Emsland 

Group presented among others general 

product solutions for snack food, 

starch-based nut coatings and newly 

developed flakes and granulates for 

use across the broad range of food 

industry applications. The comprehensive 

food range of the Emsland Group 

was demonstrated. Visitors focussed 

especially on the Emgranule®, Emflake® 

and Emjel® product series, as well as 

our native potato starch. 

On this occasion, our on-site experts 

were able to convince many new and 

potential customers of the quality of 

Emsland Group products. Next year 

Emsland Group will again maintain an interesting 

stand to present our newest product 

highlights for the food processing industry. 

Don’t forget to attend this event from 20 th 

to 23 rd February 2011 in Dubai. 

Website of the Emsland Group 

presents its ”new look“ 

In summer of 2010 the Emsland Group will go online with an 

all-new homepage design. 

Henk Jaap Meijer and Patrick Geers led 

an effort to design a creative homepage in 

cooperation with freiSign advertisement agency, 

opening up many new options for visitors. 

The structure was re - 

arranged towards a more 

user-friendly layout, making 

all industry branches of the Emsland 

Group available directly from the page ”Home“. 

Many innovations have been implemented 

within market segments as well. Along an 

informative description of individual segment 

groups, detailed application tables of 

key points ensure optimum clarity. 

Furthermore, all current innovations and 

news will be presented under the headings 

”Innovations“ and ”News“. The search engine 

function and directly inserted page 

overview also support easy web site navigation. 

The new web site soon will not only 

impress by a new, appealing design, but also 

through more user friendliness. 


23

New recruits in Food team 

Since the beginning of this year, the application department Food has been successfully enlarged by two new team 

members. In the coming years, Food Applications will become increasingly important for the Emsland Group. To support 

this development we have added competent reinforcements to our Food Team at the Emlichheim site and in the USA. 

Reinhard Briechle (48) 

will be mainly responsible 

for customer liaison and 

support in Germany, but 

will be available for application 

consulting out - 

side of Germany as well. 

He will also assist in product 

introductions as regards application 

technology. After finishing his study course 

of food technology, Reinhard Briechle 

began his career at Henkel. Since the 

early 1990 ies he worked with the potato 

starch industry, is well-known among our 

customers and estimated as a competent 

contact partner. 

Reinhard Briechle is married and has one 

daughter. In his leisure time he is active in 

sports, preferring football, cycling, skiing and 

jogging. 

Anne Tieleman, Ph. D. joined 

Emsland Group in February 

2010 as Managing Director 

for Emsland America Inc. 

She comes to the Emsland 

Group with a broad range 

of functional ingredient 

ex pe rience and the ability 

to grow and develop new markets for value 

added ingredients. Previously, Anne Tieleman 

held various business and technical positions 

at one of our competitors in the 

starch industry, including Research Director 

and then Commercial Director for the Food 

Business in North America. Most recently, 

Anne Tieleman was Business Development 

Manager for Savory Flavors for the Swissbased 

flavour company, Firmenich, focusing 

on growing the market for flavors in Snacks, 

French Fries, and Pet Food markets. Anne 

Tieleman also has worked as Application 

Manager for Hercules with the responsibility 

to develop new applications for pectin and 

carrageenan. She started her career at Kraft 

Foods working in product development of 

low-fat dairy products. 

Anne Tieleman has a BS in Food Science 

from NC State University and a Ph. D. in 

Food Science from University of Minnesota. 

She is married and her husband also works 

in the Food Industry at FMC. They have two 

children, John (13) and Katharine (11). The 

entire family loves participating in many 

different sports. Anne Tieleman enjoys playing 

in competitive tennis leagues. 

Farewell, Hans Einert 

Long-term employee Hans Einert passed away on 6 th May 2010. 

From 1998 until his 

death, Mr. Hans Einert 

worked as part of our 

field staff. During his 

almost 12 years as 

part of the team, we 

have come to know 

and esteem him as an amiable colleague. He 

was extremely conscientious and prepared 

to help others at all times. 

We will always honour his memory. 


One day for getting to know 

working life 

Within the framework of the nation-wide “Girls’ Day”, the Emsland Group once again became involved in the field 

of the training of young people. 

The staff-members are the basis for the success of 

a company. Consequently, the Emsland Group not 

only focuses on a sound training and continuous 

advanced training of its staff-members but also 

on an early thorough vocational training. In this 

way, the Emsland Group offers young people a 

start into working life and at the same time a 

perspective in a company which is operating internationally 

and oriented towards the future. 

This year, too, both girls and boys had the chance 

within the framework of the “Girls’ Day” to 

get at the Emsland Group an idea of what working 

life is like. Apart from a lot of information 

about the Group, the pupils were able to see, on 

the occasion of the “Girls’ Day”, with their own 

eyes at the Emlichheimer Main Establishment 

the different apprenticeship trades for which 

training is provided at the Emsland Group, such 

as, for instance, chemical laboratory assistant, 

industrial clerk, specialist in computer science , 

specialist in logistics, etc. Staff-members of the 

Emsland Group showed them around the different 

departments, explained the different production 

sequences and the operations required 

for them. After an eventful day, the “Girls’ Day” 

ended traditionally with a joint meal at the factory 

canteen. 

Seven minutes by bicycle ... 

An interview on how to reconcile family and career. 

Jana Berlinke works as laboratory assistant 

at the Emlichheim main plant of Emsland 

Group. During our interview, she talked about 

how she reconciles family life and her job and 

about her life in Bentheim county. 

EG: Ms Berlinke, how do you simultaneously 

manage your family and career? 

JB: I’ve been working at Emsland-Stärke 

since 1997. In 2000 our son was born, our 

daughter in 2004. I’ve known working life 

with and without children and think that 

family and career can be reconciled even in 

this rural part of the country. Kindergarden 

and school options are quite good. Whenever 

there are complications, our neighbours or 

my parents-in-law are glad to help out. At 

work we have flextime as well, meaning I am 

quite flexible for my family. 

EG: Do you as Czech native feel at 

home here? 

JB: I’ve been living in the County of Bentheim 

for 17 years. I arrived here in 1992, when SC 

Union Emlichheim engaged me as volley ball 

player for their women’s team. My biggest 

success was the team’s ascent into German 

volleyball league. It’s great that the County of 

Bentheim is a very athletics-friendly district. 

Volleyball and handball are played at German 

league level, and almost everyone here is active 

in sports clubs in their leisure time. 

EG: What are the advantages of 

l iving in a rural area? 

JB: Cycling is the biggest advantage. Here, 

everything can be done by bike. This would be 

totally unthinkable in my hilly Czech home. I 

cycle to work every day, and arrive after seven 

minutes. To get our five-year-old daughter to 

kindergarden takes just two minutes. Everything’s 

just really close in this county. 


25

A short look back 

Dick Hageman looks back upon his time at the Emsland Group and offers an insight into 

his decades of sales activities. 

After more 

than 40 years 

spent working in the potato starch industry, 

some 35 of which he successfully proved his 

sales skills at Emsland-Stärke GmbH, Dick 

Hageman will retire as of 1 st July 2010. For 

a farewell greeting he answered our question 

on what comes to his mind when looking 

back upon his time working at Emsland 

Group, and gives a comprehensive review: 

”Altogether, I have worked for 35 years 

at Emsland-Stärke GmbH. After Emsland- 

Stärke GmbH split in 1975 from the entity 

Koninklijke Scholten-Honig NV, we became 

an active global player within the potato 

starch industry. This was an exciting new 

challenge for me as well, since until then we 

had generated sales mainly in Germany, but 

suddenly the entire world was open to us. 

So I simply searched on a world map for 

places to market our starch. Our export 

activities started under our acting manager 

at that time, Mr. Herms. The beginning was 

not easy, though. When Mr. Herms started 

on his first business trip to the Far East, 

we all asked ourselves when he would 

come back, if at all, from that unknown 

continent. 

Initially, my task was to find out what 

requirements existed for export business. 

For example, determining which export 

documents were needed for which country, 

invoicing in different currencies, and applying 

for export refunds in Brussels. 

As regards quality requirements, we held 

the same view then as does Louis van 

Gaal c urrently with Bayern München: ”We 

are the best in Germany, Europe and perhaps 

the entire world.“ During my trips in 

Asian countries such as Japan or Korea I did 

discover, however, that we had to undertake 

huge improvements in quality, packaging 

and service in order to fulfil our discerning 

customers’ needs. In the course of the years 

we were successful in this undertaking. 

The Emsland Group has developed enormously 

during the last 25 years. Some former East 

German potato starch companies have been 

absorbed, and today the Emsland Group with 

its production volume of 350,000 tons is the 

No. 2 potato starch producer worldwide, right 

after AVEBE. Also, the Emsland Food GmbH 

and the Emsland-Aller Aqua were founded, 

and both companies operate successfully 

in various markets around the world. 

Regrettably, the economic crisis has also 

affected the Emsland Group. But I am convinced 

that the Group will master current difficulties, 

and will perhaps even be strengthened 

by this recession. It is important that all 

employees cooperate and keep enjoying their 

work, generating success and team spirit. 

I will leave my working days behind after 

35 years on 1 st July 2010 but although I am 

Dutch, I have become a “Grafschaftian” in my 

heart. Everyone knows my favourite hobby is 

cycling, and I’ve planned this year’s route 

already. Robert Hartwich, Jürgen Egbers and 

myself will cycle from Munich to Lake Garda. 

Apart from cycling I will also spend more 

time golfing.“ 

We wish Dick Hageman a fulfilling retirement 

in best health among his family and 

friends. All the best for the future and many 

thanks for those long years of successful 

work and cooperation! 

Elections for new workers’ council 

at the Emsland Group 

Berthold Reiners and Berthold Lammers re-elected as council chairmen. 

Berthold Reiners casting his vote 

The quadrennial elections for the worker’s 

council were held this year on 16 th and 17 th 

March 2010. The workers’ council represents 

the interests of all employees at Emsland 

Group, thus constituting an important body 

within the holding. 

Participation in elections was again quite 

satisfactory and amounted to 79.1 %. Altogether, 

nine Emsland Group employees were 

elected to the workers’ council. As in previous 

years, Berthold Reiners und Berthold Lammers 

will fulfil the function of chairmen. 


Jubilees 

Emlichheim 

Cloppenburg 

Wittingen 

25 years 

06.02.2010 Siegfried Berends 

06.02.2010 Pieter Bouwers 

06.02.2010 Jan Braakmann 

06.02.2010 Alfred Preuschkat 

10.06.2010 Günter Warmer 

01.07.2010 Herbert Köcklar 

01.07.2010 Günter Herms 

08.07.2010 Alwin Reefmann 

01.08.2010 Jan-Heinz Borgmann 

07.08.2010 Heino van der Veen 

10.08.2010 Johann Scholten 

25.09.2010 Michael Hermann 

11.10.2010 Heinz Niers 

02.11.2010 Helmut Beckmann 

15.11.2010 Reinhard Peters 

01.12.2010 Ludwig Lambers 

25 years 

19.01.2010 Bernhard te Morsche 

18.02.2010 Georg Blodau 

01.04.2010 Andrea Strauß 

16.09.2010 Reinhold Ostendorf 

18.11.2010 Peter Tietz 

35 years 

01.10.2010 Kornelia Niemöller 

Kyritz 

25 years 

01.06.2010 Holger Gast 

25 years 

27.01.2010 Annette Gloger 

29.04.2010 Helmut Jordan 

35 Jahre 

02.02.2010 Wilhelm Dargel 

Wietzendorf 

25 years 

01.07.2010 Michael Frim 

12.08.2010 Hans-Jürgen Tewes 

23.09.2010 Frank Hoffmann 

35 years 

17.03.2010 Wilhelm Klompmaker 

01.08.2010 Lutz Märlender 

01.09.2010 Dick Hageman 

02.09.2010 Herbert Brooksnieder 

01.10.2010 Heinrich Meppelink 

06.10.2010 Wilhelm Aveskamp 

35 years 

02.06.2010 Jörg Grube 

Imprint 

A company of Emsland Group 

Emsland-Stärke GmbH 

Emslandstraße 58 

D-49824 Emlichheim 

Tel. +49 (0) 59 43/81-0 

Fax +49 (0) 59 43/81-2 05 

info@emsland-group.de 

www.emsland-group.de 

Responsible party in terms of 

editorial content 

Heike Roters 

Concept and layout 

freiSign Werbeagentur 

www.freisign.de 

Photography 

Schöning Fotodesign 

www.werbefotostudio.de 


27

Companies of Emsland Group 

Starch is our future! 

Emsland-Stärke GmbH 

Emsland America LLC 

Germany’s largest producer of potato starch 

Representative Anne Tieleman 

Global lead in the production of starch refining products, potato protein and amino acids · 

· Direct client service for all applications 

promoting market presence in the North American region 

· 

Emlichheim head office, Wietzendorf site · Kyritz site · Golßen site 

Emlichheim 


Emsland Food GmbH 

· Producer of potato refining products such as flakes and granulated products for Emsland Latin America S.R.L.m 

the food processing industry 

Representative Marta R. de Quintela 

· In using the high quality standard new, qualitative high-end innovations · 

are developed for special targeted applications 

market presence in the North American region 

· 

Cloppenburg site · Wittingen site 

Emlichheim 


E.F.I. Emsland-Food-Ingredients GmbH 

· Emsland Food Ingredients is a joint venture between the Emsland-Stärke GmbH Healy Chemicals UK Ltd. 

and Advanced Food Technologies (AFT), USA. Here, bread coatings are predominantly · 

produced for different applications within the food industry 

British chemical and food industry 

Emsland-Stärke Logistics GmbH & Co. KG 

Emsland-Aller Aqua GmbH 

· Fast and effective completion of all dispatch orders is guaranteed using · 

services provided by Emsland-Stärke Logistics 

Emsland-Stärke Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. 

· Representative office of Emsland-Stärke GmbH in Singapore for promoting market Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlungs GmbH 

presence in the Asia Pacific region 

· 

· The office functions as an agent between the local agents and the head office in partnership and strategy 

Emlichheim 

· 


Farin Internasyonal Kimya 

· Representative office of Emsland-Stärke GmbH in Izmir for promoting market SEPA SrL Italy 

presence in the Middle East and North Africa region 

· 

· The office functions as an agent between the local agents and the head office in strengthening market presence in Italy 

Emlichheim 

· 

· Direct client service for all applications product range, especially in the field of nutrition products 

Representative office of Emsland-Stärke GmbH in Stamford, Connecticut for 

The office functions as an agent between the local agents and the head office in 

Representative office of Emsland-Stärke GmbH in Buenos Aires for promoting 

The office functions as an agent between the local agents and the head office in 

Representative, as well as a system supplier for Emsland Group products for the 

Emsland-Aller Aqua GmbH is a Joint Venture between Emsland-Stärke GmbH and 

Aller Aqua Technologys AS from Denmark. Emsland-Aller Aqua specialises in the 

development and production of fish food and other feed based on protein 

Holding of Emsland-Stärke GmbH with the objective of cooperation in terms of 

Mecklenburger Kartoffelveredlungs GmbH, operating on a national and international 

level, is a producer of potato products, such as flake puree and dried table potatoes, 

dumplings and other specialities for the retail and industrial customer field 

Merger of Emsland-Stärke GmbH with SEPA forming a distribution company for 

Direct customer care for all applications and distribution across the Emsland-Group 

www.emsland-group.de

02 Highlights National International People - Emsland Group

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