FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who is Zentis? Zentis has been committed to delivering first-class products and concepts for fruits and other natural raw materials for 125 years. The company's innovative drive and uncompromising quality are what make it so successful. Zentis combines the skilled workmanship of a traditional family company with a commitment to always making the best out of what fruit has to offer. These strengths are what have made us one of Europe's leading fruit processors. However, the Aachen-based company is also a dependable and innovative partner for the international dairy industry, and it also supplies the confectionery and bakery industries. The four areas of competence are: fruit preparations for the dairy industry and fruit preparations for the bakery and confectionery industry, sweet spreads (gourmet jams, jellies and sweet cream spreads for retailers and large-scale consumers) and confectionery products (marzipan, chocolate and cereal specialities for retailers and industry). When was the company established? The Zentis story began 125 years ago, on the 20 th of June 1893, when Franz Zentis founded a colonial merchandise trade business on Aachen s Adalbertsteinweg. As well as speciality products, many everyday foodstuffs were on sale. In order to be able to offer his patrons the best quality, Franz Zentis began to produce his own preserves and to roast his own coffee. His high-quality jam was particularly well received not just by housewives, but also notably by the region s bakeries, where it was used as a fruity ingredient in Fladen, a type of round, flat cake. The first step from trader to producer of preserves had been taken. In 1915, the company became exclusively a manufacturer of fruit preserves and baking fillings. The first product that was produced, FAMOS: finest apricot jam without syrup, is still a classic in the Zentis product range. Since these early beginnings, Zentis has been experiencing an almost continuous trajectory of growth. In 1954, the product range was expanded by a range of high-quality confectionery, and fruit preparations for the dairy industry were added in 1960. A new confectionery manufacturing facility was built in the Eilendorf district of Aachen to celebrate the company s centenary, and substantial investments were made at the main plant in Aachen during 2003/4. The company continues to be family-owned. How high are sales and how are they distributed between the divisions? Sales amounted to some 669 million euros in 2017. 72.7 percent are accounted for by dairy industry, 13.8 percent by sweet spreads, 5.7 percent by confectionery and 5.7 percent by baking and confectionary industry. Today, we are a major player in global markets. The export ratio was 61 percent in 2017.
How many employees and sites are there? More than 1,100 people work at the company's headquarters in Aachen, which is home to the administrative department, two factories and Zentis Logistik GmbH. The company also has a branch office in Russia, factories in Poland and Hungary and three plants in the USA. All in all, about 900 employees work for Zentis abroad. What role does industrial business play? This is our biggest and most important division. Zentis develops and produces premium fruit, vegetable and cereal preparations for the food processing industry. Our preparations refine numerous yoghurt and quark products, as well as high-end desserts, fine pastries, and many chocolate and praline specialities. Our mission is to be a business-to-business specialist delivering successful and tailor-made product solutions. We are also committed to generating new ideas at national and international level. Our production facilities feature advanced technology and robust quality control extending far beyond standard procedures. What role does retail business play? Among consumers, Zentis is known as a quality brand for premium preserves and fine marzipan specialities, and has an outstanding image. For the long-established Aachen company, this is a reason to be in constant development. With innovative products and seasonal promotional items, traders and consumers alike are constantly being convinced of the quality of the company s products and the fruit-expertise that the longstanding company has developed over the last hundred and twenty-five years. The quality of the products is particularly important to consumers. Furthermore, Zentis is always breathing new life into the preserve market with its high value range of jars and new products. What trends are evident in the market for fruit jams? There is a growing demand for value and quality among consumers. The whole product has to be just right, so the packaging must meet the same high standards as the contents. Glass containers are a very popular choice and the trend is clearly moving towards smaller sizes that cater for consumers' individual needs. For this reason, Zentis offers jar sizes from 235 to 295 grams. Besides this, more and more consumers are looking for a little variety on their breakfast tables. Whether jams with lots of delicious bits of fruit, finely pureed fruit spreads, or pleasure in the authentic from less sweet jams with a high proportion of fruit, Zentis caters for all requirements with its varied range of jams and fruit spreads.
What products does Zentis offer in this segment? Sonnen Früchte First-class quality with care guaranteed this is what Zentis promises its consumers with the product range. Sun-ripened fruits from the finest growing regions, no added flavours, preservatives or artificial colourings, an elegant glass design and strong branding that provides instant recognisability. The "Sonnen Früchte" (meaning sun fruits) are an expression of the traditional Aachen company's new brand identity. These products give consumers the peace of mind that they are buying something remarkably good. With the Sun Fruits Creation of The Year, since 2016 Zentis has been inventing a new limited preserve every year, which is only available to buy for exactly one year. Like this Zentis has been creating consistently new unusual combinations, such as Strawberry-Maracuja-Cranberry or Apricot-Tangerine-Yuzu, and follows thus the consumer s desire for fresh and individual creations. In 2018, the year of our 125 th anniversary, consumers can expect a very special and exclusive new flavour: The Sun Fruits anniversary edition Strawberry - Rose petals. With this special creation, Zentis proves its experience and expertise in the area of fruit processing. For one year, the anniversary edition will provide an appealing addition to the standard range and will ensure an even fruitier variety. 75% Frucht Zentis 75% Frucht offers a particularly high fruit content and reduced sweetness, with succulent pieces of fruit providing exquisite enjoyment. This product is a perfect fit to the current trend. It is ideal for sophisticated consumers who are passionate about nutrition and value quality, while enjoying the taste of fruit that is more intensive and not as sweet. In 2017, Zentis expanded its range with the refreshing new combinations Peach-Passionfruit and Strawberry-Orange, thereby creating even more diversity at the breakfast table. Sonnen Früchte Cremig The Sonnen Früchte Cremig range offers genuine added value for consumers with its creamy consistency. These spreadable delicacies are gently strained to ensure the final products are completely free of seeds and fruit chunks. The high fruit content, the harmoniously balanced level of sweetness and the meticulously careful processing of the exquisite fruits are what give the Sonnen Früchte Cremig spreads their intense fruity flavour. That's what makes these products extremely popular with children in particular, but also with older consumers. What is the unique selling point of Zentis? Creative innovation is traditionally very strong at Zentis. We develop a product from the idea to market maturity, and in the industrial business we focus specifically on delivering customer-centred solutions for premium product quality with particular potential for innovation. The innovations created at Zentis include fruit preparations with muesli, fruit preparations tasting of chocolate, vanilla and mocha for ultra-high temperature products (UHT), fruit preparations for split pots, the use of vitamins and
minerals in fruit preparations, diet fruit preparations, and fruit preparations with stable and sterile chocolates and cereals. What products does Zentis offer in the confectionary segment? Zentis is known for the finest marzipan products such as the Finest Creations, and Belmanda and Belnuga bars, all made with the best quality 90/10 fine marzipan. Zentis also offers bite-sized fine Marzipan Pearls all year round. Above all, Zentis offers a wide range of seasonally popular marzipan products that are German Easter and Christmas classics, such as, for example, marzipan eggs and marzipan potatoes. Classic marzipan blocks for use in baking, decorating and shaping cakes and baked goods also belong to this range of sweet goods. How does Zentis ensure quality? At Zentis, uncompromising quality management begins with the selection of the raw materials suppliers. Fruit is a highly sensitive natural product that must be cultivated with great care and harvested and processed under the strictest hygiene conditions. To guarantee the high quality and safety standards and requirements of our products, Zentis works exclusively with long-standing suppliers that are regularly audited. The consistent high quality of the end products is a testament to this. Transparency and responsibility are created throughout the whole production process through the strictest receiving inspections and guaranteed traceability of wares. Our manufacturing procedures are highly developed and particularly protective, so that the natural taste of the fruit remains. Through extensive and process-accompanying quality controls, Zentis can guarantee quality and freshness that is high above the industry standard. Zentis is certified in accordance with the IFS (International Featured Standard Food) and FSSC (Food Safety System Certification 22000:2010). What action does Zentis undertake in relation to environmental protection? Nature is our most important supplier, so treating it in a protective and sustainable way is a primary obligation for us. Our innovative strength plays an important role here. Efficient production techniques and procedures lessen the impact on the environment. We are continually striving to improve our solutions for conserving resources, such as reducing waste or restricting the consumption of water and power. In this way, we are able to considerably reduce our need for freshwater and our volume of wastewater. Through our innovative membrane technology, we save more than 50.000 cubic meter of water yearly. With this technology, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in this branch. Our engagement in energy management was awarded in May 2012 with the ISO Certificate (International Organization for Standardization 50001: 2011) for the first time.
How is Zentis involved in the Aachen region? Zentis feels closely connected to the Aachen region, as the company has its roots there. For this reason, for a long time Zentis has been engaged in different initiatives for the people of the city. Zentis supports the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen and every year awards the Zentis Children s Carnival Prize for the fostering and promotion of the region s customs. In January 2017, Zentis Thursdays were created in the Museum Ludwig Forum. All visitors now receive free entry on Thursdays. Furthermore, the company has been working closely for many years with the organisation Lebenshilfe Aachen, which promotes the integration of disabled people. As sponsor of the Aachen House for children by Ronald McDonald children s aid, Zentis is additionally committed to children. Since April 2018, the company is involved in the volunteering pass Aachen und allows its holders a discount of 15 percent at the factory sale in Aachen. How important are social networks for Zentis? Open and transparent communication with our customers is very important to us. We want our customers to be able to connect us in a straightforward way. To us, Facebook isn t only about depicting the Zentis brand world. It is also about providing a place for lively exchanges between our customers the fans of our products. Status: April 2018 Press contact: Zentis Serviceplan Public Relations & Content Press Office Sabrina Alberti Postfach 101637 Haus der Kommunikation 52016 Aachen 80333 Munich Germany Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 241 4760-8100 Tel.: +49 (0) 89 20 50-4148 pressestelle@zentis.de s.alberti@serviceplan.com www.zentis.de www.serviceplan-pr.com