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The balance between work and family life is an issue of concern for the Eckes-Granini Group. The German subsidiary’s family-conscious personnel policy was first audited and certified in accordance with guidelines for the “Work and Family” programme in 2012. The company offers a wide range of options ranging from flexible work-time models, telework and gradual transition to retirement to emergency child care to services designed to relieve some of the burdens of everyday life for working people.

Environmental protection Europe-wide:
EMAS certifications for Eckes-Granini completed in Europe

February 2016. Just as the past year came to an end, the international Eckes-Granini Group achieved its ambitious goal of having all of its national organizations with plants in Europe certified in accordance with the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) – the world’s most demanding sustainable environmental management system.

To obtain this certification, the five plants in Sweden, France, Lithuania, Finland and Hungary underwent extensive audits conducted by independent external auditors and published statements on sustainability and environmental management. In Germany Eckes-Granini has been working in accordance with the EMAS guidelines for already over 20 years.

“Having planned and implemented this extensive transnational project, we have once again affirmed our high standards in matters of environmental and climate protection,” emphasizes Dr. Karl Neuhäuser, Director Quality & Sustainability at the Eckes-Granini Group. He also sees this as an important step forward within the context of the comprehensive sustainability programme, to which the Group is continually adding new components.

In addition to activities along the value chain, the members of the international sustainability team led by Dr. Neuhäuser also focus attention on matters of relevance to products and people. The current environmental and sustainability declaration can be found on the corporate website. For further Information on EMAS click here.

Engagement on behalf of sustainable social projects:
Eckes-Granini is providing support amounting to a total of 60,000 euros for three selected initiatives.

July 2016. Helping where people recognize a need: With donations totalling 60,000 euros, Eckes-Granini is once again supporting three selected social initiatives which were nominated by employees in regions served by Eckes and which represent the philosophy of the family enterprise ideally. The donations were presented in July 2016.

1st place (EUR 30.000), Sankt Vincenzstift, Germany
The Sankt Vincenzstift is dedicated to the social integration of mentally retarded people and individuals with learning difficulties. With their donation, the Eckes Family Foundations are funding the redevelopment of the old school garden. Aside from providing instruction in matters relating to planting, tending and harvesting, the project is also devoted to the cultivation of fruit and vegetables as a means of complementing and improving the supply of food to the institutions supported by the Sankt Vincenzstift. The new school garden also serves as a natural setting for encounter.

2nd place (EUR 20,000), Fundación San Medir, Spanien
The goal of the Fundación Sand Medir is to help its residents achieved a higher level autonomy and self-determination. As a non-profit organization, it serves as a home for 43 severely mentally retarded people not far from Barcelona. Eckes-Granini Ibérica has committed itself to supporting the realization of the “Autonomy in my own home” project devoted to making all living areas in the foundation building wheelchair-accessible. In this way, all residents will be able to enjoy the benefits of a barrier-free home in dignity.

3rd place (EUR 10,000), Beratungscafé „unplugged“, Deutschland
People in need of advice in difficult situations can find help here: "unplugged" is an advisory café for young adults in the Neustadt district in Mainz. The Eckes Family Foundations are pleased to support this project sponsored by the Gesellschaft für psychosoziale Einrichtungen (Society for Psychosocial Institutions, gpe), which was proposed by a young trainee. The donation will be used to expand the programme of free advisory services and leisure activities at “unplugged”.

Eckes-Granini has been providing support for social initiatives in various regions through the International Charity Project since 2008. The International Charity Project is funded by the Eckes Family Foundations.

“With juice, naturally”
New German fruit juice association campaign

November 2015. The German fruit juice association VdF has just embarked on a new campaign titled Natürlich mit Saft – With juice, naturally. “Our campaign aim is to restore consumer awareness of juice as a modern, functional and especially natural product,” said Klaus-Jürgen Philipp, the association’s president, expressing regret at the continuous decline in interest in fruit juice over the years.

This decline marks a stark contrast against the number of fruit juice manufacturers in Germany, which is more than any other country at 375 companies according to the VdF, or every other fruit juice company in Europe. Consumer information on fruit juice is available on the web at www.natuerlich-mit-saft.eu, and includes plenty of “fruit juice culture” coverage on stories about people and events that have turned the industry into what it is today.

The association’s online activities include a humorously self-deprecating campaign scheduled for mid September 2016, which urges consumers to visit their local Saftladen or “half-pint outfit” with fruit juice companies opening their doors to the public.

Palatine CIC to celebrate twenty years of EMAS
Eckes-Granini Germany awarded for environmental protection

November 2015. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the German Palatinate region has awarded Eckes-Granini for the company’s many years of steadfast dedication to environmental protection on the twentieth anniversary of EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme), an internationally recognized environmental management system. Lutz Hofmann, Manager of Safety, Environment and Facility Management took the award at the anniversary ceremony.

“We’re very proud of this recognition, which of course applies to our whole team,” said Eckes-Granini Deutschland CEO Dr. Kay Michael Fischer; “Environmental protection has played a major role in our corporate governance for decades. We take responsibility for our products, supply chain, and for people and society. Our employees have internalized this philosophy and practise and develop on it every day.”

Eckes-Granini Germany introduced an ISO-based environmental management system at its headquarters in 1996 with individual plants certified according to EMAS since then, finally spanning the entire company in 2005. The standard provides a uniform basis for an environmental management system, helping Eckes-Granini Germany in its policy of continuous improvement in environmental protection. The company has also been publishing an environmental report according to EMAS guidelines for nineteen years. The current environmental and sustainability declaration can be found on the corporate website (www.eckes-granini.de).

Cooperation with EcoVadis:
Eckes-Granini: Thorough supplier evaluation is key

September 2015. The best of fruit – the tagline of the Eckes-Granini group – is naturally reflected in the raw materials used, and applied in the company’s claim to quality and standard practices. Raw material quality and keeping to delivery deadlines are no longer the only criteria that the group uses in selecting and evaluating its suppliers – the Eckes-Granini Group has also factored sustainability in the equation.

“We have embarked on a cooperation agreement with the experts from EcoVadis towards a more effective, reliable and independent result,” said Ulrich Bunk, Supply Chain Senior Vice President. Most of the suppliers and major logistics contractors have already been evaluated. “We’ve been using the results in negotiations with our suppliers towards making further improvements on sustainability.”

The experts at EcoVadis have been applying a total of twenty-one factors covering the following aspects of sustainability: environment, society, ethics and supply chain. The type and scope of the data collected as well as the evaluation are adjusted to the size of the company itself and the countries in which the company is active. EcoVadis draws on information from a variety of reliable sources ranging from NGOs to trades unions alongside available documentation.

Apart from its suppliers and major logistics contractors, Eckes-Granini has also had itself thoroughly audited by EcoVadis. Eckes-Granini Deutschland GmbH in Germany achieved a very good result, ranking among the top five percent of more than twenty thousand suppliers, manufacturers and trading partners analyzed by EcoVadis.

Recent research reveals that orange juice offers greater health benefits than fresh oranges.

A glass of orange juice or a fresh orange? Which is the healthier choice? Researchers at Hohenheim University went looking for an answer to this question. Their findings left no doubt: Orange juice is a nutritional wonder – and easily as beneficial to health as the fresh fruit.

Oranges are chock full of nutrients, such as carotinoids and flavonoids. The latter are secondary plant substances which, among other positive properties, are believed to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. And these effects are best achieved when the oranges are consumed in the form of fresh fruits – at least according to conventional wisdom. To test the validity of that assumption, the team led by Professor Carle from Hohenheim University analysed oranges in several different processing stages – as fresh pieces, as orange puree, freshly squeezed, flash-pasteurized and pasteurized for extended shelf life.

On the basis of a thorough analysis of the component substances, the scientists came to the following conclusion: The human body evidently processes certain substances more effectively when they are consumed as orange juice rather than as fresh whole oranges. The researchers found slightly fewer carotinoids and less vitamin C in pasteurized juice, which is heated only briefly to retard spoilage. However, bioavailability improves in juice. In other words, although juice contains lower concentrations of these essential healthy substances, our bodies are better able to absorb and process carotinoids and vitamin C from orange juice than from fresh oranges. This is presumably due to the presence of fibrous components in the fruit pulp and the white material beneath the skin, which are also ingested when fresh fruits are consumed but are present only in smaller quantities in juice.

hohes C “Time for family projects”
What family wouldn’t jump at the chance to spend more time talking, playing, laughing and working together? But as this commercial shows, we tend to devote most of our time to work or our smartphones. Everyone knows that family time is precious, and that’s why Eckes-Granini has launched the “Time for the Family” initiative for hohes C.

The current slogan is “Every family makes plans. We turn them into projects”. The goal of the initiative is to realize interesting projects with families that create opportunities for enjoyable time together on a regular and sustainable basis. After all, pulling together and embracing shared goals build close ties and bring joy to children and parents alike.

“As a family enterprise, we know how valuable time shared time with the family can be, and working with families to realize their ideas and create something precious and lasting through our initiative makes us happy as well”, explains Alexandra Kerler, Marketing Manager hohes C.

Families can apply by submitting their wishes and ideas to www.hohesc.de until 21 December 2014. The campaign is advertised in online media, in the retail trade and on the labels of hohes C products. No models appear on the labels. Instead, they feature Eckes-Granini employees promoting the idea of “precious family time”.

Eckes-Granini will select several personal family projects from the submitted proposals and implement them together with the respective families and a team of experts. The purpose and focus of each project will be left up to the creativity of the family concerned. After completion, the projects will be presented at the initiative website.

Looking for inspiration? Then just check the website at www.hohesc.de or visit the hohes C channel on YouTube. There you’ll find tips on how to spend valuable family time as well as videos on family projects currently in progress. And as you’ll see: Whether you build a treehouse with the whole family or a table for the next family breakfast, renovate a caravan or record a song at a sound studio – the pleasure comes from doing it together.

What are multivitamin juices and multifruit juices?
Multivitamin juice consists of a blend of different fruit juices to which – as the name suggests – various vitamins are added. Multifruit juice, on the other hand, is “merely” a blend of different fruit juices to which no vitamins are added. Several consumer magazines have included both multivitamin and multifruit juices in their tests, and have often criticized the addition of vitamins to multivitamin juice. However, such juices would no longer meet the statutory requirements for multivitamin juices without these added vitamins.

Which vitamins does hohes C Multivitamin Juice contain?
Our hohes C Multivitamin contains eleven vitamins that are typically found in multivitamin juice: vitamin C, eight B vitamins, vitamin E and provitamin A in the form of beta-carotene.

What amounts of vitamins are contained in hohes C Multivitamin Juice?
The quantity of vitamins contained in hohes C Multivitamin Juice is based on the currently applicable NRVs (Nutrient Reference Values) for the entire EU. These correspond to the average amounts a healthy individual should consume daily in order to meet his or her nutritional requirements. A single glass of hohes C Multivitamin Juice is sufficient to meet the recommended daily requirements for the vitamins contained in the juice. Thus we cite “one glass” (0.25 l) as the recommended portion size.

Where do the vitamins in hohes C Multivitamin Juice come from?
The natural vitamin C is supplied exclusively by the fruit contained in the juice. The quantities of the other nine vitamins and provitamin A naturally supplied by the selected types of fruit and contained in a single glass of juice are far too small to meet the daily requirements. Therefore, these vitamins are added. This fact is clearly indicated on the product label.

Does the addition of beta-carotene pose a risk for consumers?

IFS Food Audit reaffirms the high quality standards
in force at Eckes-Granini Deutschland

“We bring the best of fruit”: The results of this year’s IFS Food Audit of Eckes-Granini Deutschland proved once again that this is not a hollow promise. To quote Dr. Karl Neuhäuser (Director Quality Management) and Reiner Pfuhl (Director Supply Chain), “We are very pleased to have completed the audit with success and achieved a ‘higher level of quality’.

The annual audit of our Quality Management System, including all quality-related procedures and processes, by outside experts in accordance with the globally recognized International Food Standard (IFS) is an essential component of Eckes-Granini’s quality policy and quality goals.   

In June 2014, an auditor visited our German facilities in Nieder-Olm, Bröl and Bad Fallingbostel for the purpose of determining whether administrative departments and production plants meet the demanding requirements for IFS certification. She also undertook a critical review of central functions of the Eckes-Granini Group and its German subsidiary – including Purchasing, Supplier Management and Logistics, among others.  

High praise from Minister-President Malu Dreyer for Eckes-Granini Deutschland’s sustained commitment

Eckes-Granini Deutschland hosts a political guest in Nieder-Olm: In late May of this year, Malu Dreyer, Minister-President of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) visited the headquarters of the Eckes-Granini Group’s German subsidiary in order to learn more about the company’s products, philosophy and strategy. Particular attention was focused on the issues of sustainability and the balance between work and family life.

The Minister-President praised the leading producer in the German fruit beverage market as an important employer and economic factor in Rhineland-Palatinate. “Eckes-Granini is a successful, widely recognized brand of which our state can rightly be proud,” said Malu Dreyer.

Sustainable action and management are essential components of corporate culture at Eckes-Granini, and they apply to the entire value chain, from Purchasing to Production to Packaging and Logistics. The development of healthy, innovative products as well as environmentally and consumer-friendly packaging has top priority. Consequently, Eckes-Granini Deutschland has been certified under the internationally recognized EMAS environmental management system since 1994 and issues its own Environmental Management Report at regular intervals.

The balance between work and family life is another matter of great importance to Eckes-Granini. “Our employees are the foundation for our success. And thus we help ensure that they manage the balancing act between work and personal and family life effectively,” explains Heribert Gathof, General Manager of Eckes-Granini Deutschland. The company was awarded the “Work and Family” certificate for its family-oriented personnel policy for the first time in June 2012.

PHOTOS:

Heribert Gathof presenting the Annual Report of the Eckes-Granini Group for 2013 to Malu Dreyer. This year’s feature topic was
sustainability.


Minister-President Malu Dreyer at a tasting session as Herbert Gathof (General Manager) and Mario Dechent (Research & Development) describe the various different products.

Germans are the world’s leading consumers of fruit juice

The Germans are world champions – not only in football, but in fruit-juice consumption as well. On average, every German drinks 33 litres per year (source: VDI, Verband der deutschen Fruchtsaft-Industrie e.V.). That puts Germany at the top the world rankings.

The most popular fruit juice in Germany is apple, which is consumed most often as a refreshing spritzer. Orange is a close second. And by the way, Eckes-Granini introduced hohes C as the first ready-to-drink orange juice in 1958 – a genuine innovation at the time – and in the same eye-catching brown bottle it comes in today. Recent trends also favour regional products, special blends and pure fruit juices.

PHOTOS:

The Green Check for sustainable logistics

Sustainability – at Eckes-Granini that means assuming responsibility for products, people and the entire value chain. And logistics play an especially important role in that process. Harvested fruit has a long way to go from the growing region to the supermarket shelf, and tonnes and tonnes of CO2 are emitted during transport.

Eckes-Granini wants to cut back on these emissions. As a founding member of the “Lean and Green” initiative, the fruit juice expert has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions during transport by 20 percent within the next five years. To accomplish that, Eckes-Granini is relying on the Green Check.

The Check, which is performed by independent logistics experts, involves several different steps. First, the experts evaluate all transport and logistics processes with reference to predefined criteria. That provides the basis for the next step, which is to identify specific measures and strategies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions during transport.

The Green Check for Eckes-Granini took place at the Hennef facility in March 2014. Nine Eckes-Granini tractor units and ten articulated lorries dispatched from that location alone travel over 1.2 million kilometres per year. That translates into tremendous potential savings on direct transport operations alone. But Eckes-Granini goes one step farther. All contract forwarding agents will also be required to undergo a Green Check in future as well. “It’s important for us to take full advantage of all opportunities to cut down on CO2 emissions – and that requires a holistic approach involving all internal and external transport operations along our entire value chain”, explains Helmut Kinzler, Director, Logistics at Eckes-Granini Deutschland GmbH.

granini “fruchtig & leicht” wins Global Stevia Innovation Award

„Outstanding!” This was the opinion of The World Stevia Organisation on granini fruchtig & leicht. The innovation developed by Eckes-Granini impressed the expert jury in the “Beverage” category with its delicious, fruity taste. Consequently, the Wold Stevia Organisation honoured granini fruchtig & leicht with the Stevia Innovation Award at the International Stevia Convention in Berlin in June of this year.

The product is available in Germany since February 2014 and sold in three popular varieties – “Peach”, “Banana” and “Multivitamin”. The innovative recipe featuring stevia, a calorie-free sweetener, contains 30 to 50% fruit and has less sugar and 30% fewer calories than traditional fruit nectars.

“In the case of granini “fruchtig und leicht”, we benefit from our many years of experience and expertise in the development of balanced, fine-tasting recipes”, explains Vera Ellenberg, Product Developer for the granini brand. Based in Nieder-Olm, Eckes-Granini has been engaged in research on the development of products containing stevia for several years. The first beverages made with stevia, “Joker vital équilibre” and “Rea light”, were introduced to the French market in 2010. Stevia was approved for use as a natural sweetener in all EU Member States in 2011, and improvements in the quality of available plant material from which stevia is extracted were achieved at the same time.

That enabled Eckes-Granini to develop new recipes and introduce beverages containing stevia in other European countries as well. The fruit juice experts launched “granini light” in Spain in 2012. Products in the “Marli vital”, “Juissi” and “Mehukatti” lines were also developed as low-calorie beverages with stevia in Finland on the basis of prior local experience.

The stevia plant was originally discovered in Paraguay, a South American country in which it has been used as a sweetener for centuries. Since the approval of Stevia for use as a beverage sweetener throughout the EU, the plant from South America has attracted increasing attention and acceptance among German consumers since then.