Double-digit Growth for Hamburg Stern-Wywiol Gruppe
The Hamburg Stern-Wywiol Gruppe reports a new year with double-digit growth after closing 2022 with consolidated revenues of 764 million euros. With 12 specialist facilities in Germany, 19 foreign subsidiaries, ten Technology Centers and production locations in nine countries around the globe, this owner-operated company group is one of the global players in food & feed ingredients.
Two of the growth drivers in the group are the Hydrosol and Planteneers subsidiaries. For many years Hydrosol has been a leading international supplier of stabilizing and texturing systems, while Planteneers is one of the successful newcomers in the growth market for plant-based alternatives. “Closeness to the market is crucial for us,” said Dr. Matthias Moser, Managing Director of the Food Ingredients Division of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe. “It’s the only way we can offer customers the solutions they need and expect from us. Our innovations are precisely tuned to individual customer requirements.”
The corona crisis and associated travel restrictions showed that many things can be accomplished online, and that travel is no longer absolutely necessary. Trends and needs have developed at different rates in different regions of the world, as have foods. Sustainability and climate protection, raw materials shortages and economical products – these trends differ in importance to producers, the trade, and consumers across different regions.
“Challenges in raw materials sourcing, higher energy costs, the rising expectations of a growing world population regarding the flavor, appearance and quality of foods, and let’s not forget climate change and digitalization,” said Dr. Moser. “The world is changing faster than ever before. But we nevertheless look optimistically towards the future. With all the hurdles, we also see the opportunity to offer appropriate solutions to these major challenges through scientific and technical innovation.”
One example is “cellular agriculture” – making animal products from cells. “Both the cellular approach for making cultivated meat and precision fermentation for obtaining milk proteins give us opportunities to work with innovative raw materials and products in the future as well,” said Katharina Schäfer, Team Leader Product Management at Hydrosol. “Naturally there are challenges in the development of these future technologies, including scaling and consumer acceptance. But if they can be met, these technologies can make a major contribution to sustainable nutrition for the growing world population.”