HOCHDORF strengthens its position in Cereals & Ingredients

HOCHDORF Group Press Release: Takeover of Zifru and Snapz

Hochdorf, 1 November 2017 – HOCHDORF Holding Ltd has signed purchase agreements for the acquisition of Zifru Trockenprodukte GmbH, Zittau, and the Snapz brand. With both acquisitions, HOCHDORF is expanding its product portfolio in its Cereals & Ingredients division and purchasing a children's food brand established in the USA and Europe. The acquisition was completed by the end of October 2017.

The HOCHDORF Group is building its strategy on two cornerstones: forwards integration and the development and marketing of new products with high added value. The purchase of Zifru Trockenprodukte GmbH and the takeover of the Snapz brand strengthens the company's Cereals & Ingredients division in the area of healthy children's nutrition, in line with the HOCHDORF strategy.

Supplementary Kids’ Food products
The Cereals & Ingredients division is already active in developing and selling a range of products related to healthy nutrition for children. With the takeover of the production company Zifru Trockenprodukte GmbH, it will extend its product range to include dried vegetables and fruit. Zifru products have been commercialized for several years in Europe and the USA under the Snapz brand.

The company’s production plant in Zittau will be expanded with additional technologies to enable it to offer a comprehensive Kids’ Food range to the global marketplace.

“We have been able to obtain purchasing, production and marketing experience with the acquisition of Zifru and the Snapz brand,” explains Michael Burla, Managing Director of Cereals & Ingredients at HOCHDORF. Mr Burla is confident that the integration of Zifru and the Snapz brand will provide an optimal foundation for producing and marketing healthy children’s snacks.

The acquisition was completed at the end of October 2017. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Contact: Dr. Christoph Hug, Head of Corporate Communications HOCHDORF Group, Tel: +41 (0)41 914 65 62 / +41 (0)79 859 19 23, christoph.hug@hochdorf.com

About the HOCHDORF Group
The HOCHDROF Group, based in Hochdorf, achieved a consolidated gross sales revenue of CHF 551.5 million in 2016. It is one of the leading foodstuff companies in Switzerland, employing 630 staff as of 31.12.2016. Made from natural ingredients such as milk, wheat germ and oil seeds, HOCHDORF products have been contributing to our health and wellbeing since 1895 – from babies to senior citizens. Its customers include the food industry and the wholesale and retail sectors. Its products are sold in over 90 countries. Additional information: www.hochdorf.com.

About Zifru Trockenprodukte GmbH
Founded in 1997, Zifru Trockenprodukte GmbH specialises in developing and producing healthy, long-life fruit and vegetable products. The fruit and vegetable pieces are dried using state-of-the-art microwave vacuum technology. The drying plant is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The gentle drying technology retains the valuable and healthy components of the fruits and vegetables.

Snapz
A wide range of dried fruit and vegetables are marketed under the Snapz brand – Organic & FUNctional snacks. These healthy food products for children are sold in the USA and Europe.