DutchNews, September
12, 2017
Soya is widely used as a meat replacement. Photo: Depositphotos.com |
Zwanenberg Food Group, which includes
Dutch meat and snack producer Kips and Zwan luncheon meat, is phasing out meat
products in favour of vegetarian products, the FD reports.
The family firm,
which has been in business since 1929, says it is moving with the times and the
new strategy comes in response to the fall in meat consumption in Europe. ‘It
is now quite normal for young people to not eat meat three days a week,’ ceo Ronald Lotgerink told the paper.
The
switch is a ‘rigorous’ one, FD writes. In time Zwanenberg is aiming for 50% of
its turnover to come from non-meat products like vegetarian snacks, soups and
sauces.
According to owner and director Aldo van der Laan the trend towards
eating less meat is irreversible. ‘As a food producer we are looking to profit
from this by buying specific companies or building more factories,’ he told FD.
Fresh meat
At present 90% of Zwanenberg’s €400m annual turnover is based on
meat products.
The company has already sold its fresh meat business to Belgian
meat producer Ter Beke for €40m. Kips liver paste is not included in the
package and will be sold as a snack.
It has also gained access to the new
market for soups and sauces by taking over Unilever’s soup and (Unox) sausage
factory in Oss where it will also produce part of its meat based products.
The
move towards diversification is not only a result of changing eating habits but
also a matter of size. ‘Scale is essential in the food market,’ Van der Laan
told the paper.
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