Zwanenberg Food Group wants to close down Voorthuizen site

Almelo, 9 March 2022 – Zwanenberg Food Group (ZFG) intends to stop the production of sausage and soups at the Voorthuizen factory in 2023. The production lines for soup and sausage in Oss will be expanded. Zwanenberg aims to retain as many employees as possible.

Since the acquisition of Struik Foods (in March 2020), Zwanenberg Food Group has four production locations for canned goods in the Netherlands. To a large extent, the same activities take place at these production sites.

Maarten Elsinga, CEO Zwanenberg Food Group Netherlands: “The core of this step is that we will soon produce the same volumes with one factory less.”

“After the acquisition of Struik on 13 March 2020, we were immediately confronted with all the consequences of COVID. Our first priority was to provide our customers with products as well as we could. We have also implemented various operational improvements.”

“At the moment, however, we are confronted with enormous cost increases in the entire supply chain: raw materials, energy, logistics, packaging, etcetera. We expect that we will not be able to pass on these cost increases to our customers in full and with delay. As a result, we have no choice but to immediately implement substantial cost-saving measures.”

” After considering various alternatives, we have come to the conclusion that ending our production in Voorthuizen is the best choice. This will enable us to achieve our objective in the relatively short term. This project is expected to be completed in the course of 2023.”

The Works Council has been asked for advice and the trade unions have been informed of ZFG’s plans. The company’s objective is to retain as many employees as possible. ZFG will discuss this with the employee organisations.

About Zwanenberg Food Group
Zwanenberg Food Group employs 1,800 people who together achieve net sales of approximately € 600 million. Zwanenberg produces meat preserves, snacks, soups, sauces, convenience meals, vegetarian and vegan products. The company exports canned meat – including under the brand name ZWAN – to more than a hundred countries worldwide. In the Benelux, the company is best known for the brands Kips (liver sausage, pâté, snacks, vegan products), Huls (dry sausages), Struik (frankfurters, soups, meals) and Chicken Tonight (meal sauces). Zwanenberg Food Group has production locations in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Note to the editor (not for publication):
For more informatione please contact Maarten Elsinga, CEO Zwanenberg Food Group Netherlands, via Patrick de Leede (pr@zwanenberg.nl, tel +31 (0)6 21 54 6995).