ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Eckes-Granini Group

A major focus for Eckes-Granini France in 2008 was
the corporate restructuring process. As previously
announced in the autumn of 2007, the company divested
itself of its trade label operations in Sarre-Union
(Alsace) in April. The new owner is Laiterie de Saint
Denis de l’Hôtel (LSDH). This move enables the French
national organization – in keeping with the strategic
orientation adopted by the entire Eckes-Granini Group
– to focus on its strong brands and the production
facility in Mâcon in support of the goal of achieving
sustainable, long-term growth in company value.
Within the context of the reorganization of business
operations, a new sales offi ce was opened in Paris
and the Purchasing and Research & Development
Departments were consolidated in Mâcon. Management
and administrative departments have remained
in Sarre-Union as planned. The company has hired
more than 30 new employees in order to fi ll existing
vacancies and strengthen its business competence in
general. Furthermore, the fi rst steps in the implementation
of an extensive three-year investment
plan were taken at the Mâcon facility. The objectives
are to increase capacities and effi ciency, to achieve
further improvements in product quality and to mo dernize
the plant in the interests of establishing better
working conditions.
Having successfully realized a number of restruc turing
measures during the course of the past year, the
“new” Eckes-Granini France is now ideally equipped
to meet current and future challenges in the market.
The company has not only established an excellent
position with fresh ideas and programmes in support
of its brands, but has also enhanced its strength in all
major departments – including Sales, Supply Chain
and Finance – in terms of both personnel and organizational
competence, in anticipation of future market
developments.
| * Market data for the retail food trade
France
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