Südzucker International Finance B. V. Südzucker AG ... - Xetra

Sugar segmentSüdzucker has further developed its system forimproving services to customers. A flexible andreliable just-in-time supply chain reduces customerwarehousing. Food safety continued to be a majortopic and new concepts were developed in this areajointly with customers. Currently, a sealing systemhas been introduced for silo trains, which accuratelydocuments the opening of silo trains ontransportation to and from the customer.As market leader, it is important for Südzucker tooccupy niche markets. Thus, bio-sugar was againprocessed from local beet during the 2002 campaign.The expansion of the special products range for thefood retailing industry begun last year was rigorouslycontinued. New products in the special range helpincrease the attractiveness of sugar products in thefull range area. Südzucker launched a 500 g packageof bio-sugar made from raw cane sugar on themarket, which meet trade and consumer qualityrequirements with its bio-seal. A mixture of traditionallyproducedicing sugar and more moisture-resistantIsomalt from Palatinit results in a product withoutstanding sprinkling qualities which does notbecome lumpy. It is sold with a newly-introducedshaker. With the changeover to tray-based packagingfor all products, the retail food industry is offeredpackaging and palleting suitable for all types ofoutlets. The re-launch of the brand range hasstrengthened the Südzucker brand presence.Sugar sales volumes at Saint Louis Sucre were1,121,600 tonnes (1,144,000 tonnes) in 2002/03(beet and cane sugar); its position in the EU couldagain be defended. Whereas the French and Germanmarkets are supplied from northern France, SLS hasa refinery in Marseilles in a good geographic positionto supply Italy and Spain. The company’s marketposition in France could be extended, particularlyby strengthening the Saint Louis, Tutti Free and CarteBlanche brands.Sugar sales volumes for AGRANA could be maintainedat almost the same level as for the previous year, at436,000 tonnes (444,000 tonnes). In addition tooverall consumer reticence, in particular imports fromthe neighbouring Balkan region under the terms ofthe EU treaty led to a decline in domestic sales to309,000 tonnes (326,000 tonnes). Household sugarsales and sales to the Austrian food industry wereequally affected. The introduction of a compulsorypackaging charge in Germany further reducedexports by the Austrian drinks industry of products innon-returnable packaging and hence domestic salesvolumes in Austria.Including increased sales volumes of sugar bysubsidiaries in the central and eastern Europeancountries of 475,000 tonnes (398,000 tonnes), theAGRANA Group achieved an overall sugar salesvolume of 911,000 tonnes (849,000 tonnes).Total sales volumes at Raffinerie Tirlemontoise roseby 4 % due to higher sugar production in the2002/03 campaign. Sales volumes in the EU declinedslightly, whereby gains in the end-consumer marketcould not fully compensate for declines in theindustrial area. Ti´Light, the low-calorie product, salesof which are still growing rapidly, was supplementedby Ti´Flora and Ti´Calcium, both health-related products.Candico, a subsidiary, could further extend its marketposition in the retailing and industrial sectors.A total of 750,000 tonnes (970,000 tonnes) of sugarfrom Belgium, Germany and Austria were exported tothird countries during 2002/03 via SüdzuckergroupExport Centre (SEC). The reason for the sharpdecrease was a smaller harvest by the SüdzuckerGroup in 2001. Due to increased deliveries bycompetitors, above all from Brazil, we had to reduceour exports to Africa and the Middle East.F-64