CGF Announces New Members for July 2019

Agthia Group is a leading Abu Dhabi based food and beverage company. Established in 2004, the Company is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and has the symbol “AGTHIA”. 51 percent of the Company’s shares are held by Senaat (General Holding Corporation), an Abu Dhabi Government entity, with the balance held by retail and institutional investors. The Company’s assets are located in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt and Turkey. Agthia offers a world class portfolio of integrated businesses providing high quality and trusted food and beverage products for customers and consumers across the UAE, GCC, Europe and the wider Middle East and North Africa Region. More than 4,000 employees are engaged in manufacturing, distribution and marketing various food and beverage products: Water (Al Ain, Al Bayan, Alpin Natural Spring Water, Delta, Bambini); Flour (Grand Mills); Animal Feed (Agrivita, Agrivita Marabea); Juices (Al Ain Fresh, Capri Sun); Dairy (Yoplait); Processed Food (Al Ain Tomato Paste, Frozen Vegetable); Ambient and Frozen Bakery (Grand Mills).

“Agthia Group has always believed that strong partnerships and collaborative efforts are key to running sustainable businesses that positively impact consumers worldwide. Becoming CGF members will allow Agthia Group to exchange best practices between like-minded peers and address both challenges and opportunities our industry faces across continents. While we started in the United Arab Emirates as a flour and water producer, Agthia has expanded into multiple F&B categories and into many geographies in the wider Middle East and North Africa. Our growth ambitions are dictated by our ability to continue integrating R&D and innovation into our strategy. Our products are today sold in over 30 countries and we are looking to increase our exports to Asia and Europe, especially in functional drinking waters. Our membership to the CGF is in line with this strategy and will help us as a Group work with our peers in the forum to ensure better lives through better business”. – Tariq Ahmed Al Wahedi , CEO, Agthia Group.

The Bel Group is a world leader in branded cheese and a major player in the healthy snacks segment. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally-recognised brands, including such products as The Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Mini Babybel®, Leerdammer®, Boursin®, Pom’Potes® and GoGo squeeZ® as well as some 20 local brands, enabled the Group to generate sales of €3.3 billion in 2018. 12,700 employees in some 30 subsidiaries around the world contribute to the Group’s success. Bel products are prepared at 32 production sites and distributed in over 130 countries.

“At Bel, we have always aimed at having a positive impact on our full economical ecosystem and across our entire value chain, from the farm to the plate. Today, we want to go even further to tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges: sustainably feeding billions of people on our planet. This is why we have committed ourselves to championing healthier and responsible food for all. We are convinced that our iconic brands have a key role to play in the current food revolution. Through them, we will do our part on better nutrition, sustainable farming, environmental and people well-being. Yet, an impactful positive change can only come through collective action. This is the purpose of Bel’s membership in The Consumer Goods Forum”. – Antoine Fiévet, CEO, Bel Group.

Zwanenberg Food Group has 1,600 employees and net sales of of approximately €400 million (2018). Zwanenberg produces canned meat, snacks, soups, sauces, convenience meals, vegetarian and vegan products. The company exports meat preserves (mainly under the brand name ZWAN) to more than 100 countries worldwide. In the Benelux, Zwanenberg is known primarily through Kips (liver sausage, pâté, vegan products, cold meats) and Huls (dry sausages). Zwanenberg Food Group has its own production locations in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“In this rapidly changing and challenging environment, we strongly believe that traditional customer-supplier relations will eventually evolve in sustainable long-term relationships where it comes to sharing ideas, knowledge and vision in order to develop a new sustainable food industry. This starts with trust, transparency and long term commitment as is usual within a family owned business. Therefore, we are delighted to become a member of The Consumer Goods Forum family and look forward to contribute to their initiatives and their members”. – Maarten Elsinga, CEO Zwanenberg Netherlands.

As the only association in the consumer goods industry that is truly global, while embracing both retailers and manufacturers, and service providers, our members understand the value of our uniqueness. Many of the opportunities and issues that we face as an industry can’t be addressed by individual companies alone, or just by collaborating regionally. The CGF offers you a seat at the table, and our members know that our global, cross-value chain perspective is critical to helping drive positive change globally and in securing long-term, sustainable business growth.