Mission, strategy and values

Vision

Alfesca aims to be the leader in selected convenience and healthy food categories with the focus on convenience, fine-seafood and regional-speciality products in major European markets.

“Pleasure is a state of mind” is a claim that Alfesca has made its own in the food industry. Alfesca’s vision is that food, especially at the premium end of the market, will always be connected to pleasure.

We strive to cultivate this attitude in each of our companies because we are convinced that it is the most successful way to grow faster than our competitors, to provide great value for our shareholders and to develop strong relations with our clients and customers.

Mission

Alfesca’s goal is to provide its customers with the best solution in terms of product quality and services in order to increase sales, secure sustainable profits and create value for its shareholders.

Whilst offering consumers convenience and fine food products, additional emphasis is placed on offering a great variety of healthy eating products, providing customers with a good balanced diet. Alfesca also aims to offer its customers (mainly the modern distribution and the catering companies in Europe) the best solutions in terms of service and partnership.

Alfesca is always aiming at creating a close and enduring relationship with its customers and consumers, based on trust and dynamic professionalism.

Strategy

Alfesca’s strategy is focused on increasing sales of its products, both under its own strong brands and as retailer-branded products, through innovation and by being responsive to new trends in food consumption in Europe. Alfesca efficiently provides for retailer's own brands while at the same time it builds up its own successful fine-food brands such as Labeyrie, Blini, Delpierre and Skandia.

Alfesca intends to build a dynamic and profitable business by organic growth and by selected acquisitions concentrated on complementary pillars that will strengthen its business in a dynamic and profitable manner in order to add value.

Alfesca is enjoying organic growth supported by the steady growth of the markets in which the company operates. But management is also aiming to expand by means of bolt-on acquisitions where the focus is on strengthening the four current pillars of the business.

Alfesca is also looking for a significant acquisition to add a fifth pillar to its operations and thus obtain a better balance of activities in terms of geographical spectrum, seasonality and exposure to raw material variations.

Innovation is a driving force in Alfesca’s success and essential to its strategy. An aggressive and efficient innovation policy is absolutely necessary if the company is to grow in a competitive environment. Strong innovation will continue to be one of the key factors in the company’s development.

Last but not least, success is impossible without industrial efficiency. Alfesca has always been a key player in this regard, investing each year in order to be one of the most efficient producers in its market sectors. Further industrial efficiency will be a top priority so the company can gain added value from its well-equipped facilities.

Culture

Alfesca’s culture is driven by a desire for high performance and a focus on the needs of its consumers. It works in close partnership with its customers, the aim being to provide fine, speciality and convenience food and service that is in demand in a dynamic consumer environment.

Alfesca’s businesses are imbued with entrepreneurial spirit. They seek to enable the company to achieve its aims through a passion for growth, customer intimacy and innovation, supported by local leadership, category expertise, world-class manufacturing and an integrated supply chain.

The pursuit of excellence has always been part of Alfesca’s culture and partly explains the success of the company.

• excellence in pursuit of high performance to provide value to our shareholders.

• excellence in pursuit of the best festive and convenience food solutions for our customers.

• excellence in pursuit of the best social climate and personal development of our people.

• excellence in pursuit of a long-term balanced partnership with our suppliers.

Sustainable Development

While focusing on innovation and growth, Alfesca is careful to take sustainability into consideration. Alfesca’s management has formulated a long-term approach for the Group’s companies, to meet the expectations of consumers and public authorities in terms of sustainable development.

Global warming, incredible price increases for commodities and energy and exponential growth of the world’s population have heightened the very strong concerns regarding sustainable development.

Over the last three years, Alfesca has placed great emphasis on incorporating concerns over sustainable development into its strategy. Three years ago, a Scientific Committee was established, composed of experts from outside the company who are specialized in food safety, nutrition and health, and sustainable development. The Scientific Committee’s task is to help Alfesca to set in motion the actions needed for sustainable development, including the sourcing of sustainable raw materials, processing with minimal environmental impact and a focus on healthy foods. Many achievements have been made in this field and work in developing this demanding project will progress further.