European meat and convenience food company Bell Food Group has announced plans to split off its international poultry unit.
Formerly part of the Bell International Hubers/Sütag branch, the poultry line will become “an independent business area”, the group said in a statement released today (17 April).
The move will affect two production sites operating under the Hubers/Sütag division – the Süddeutsche Truthahn site in Ampfing, Germany and its Hubers Landhendl facility in Pfaffstätt, Austria.
The former produces a range of chicken and pork products, including chicken schnitzel, processed chicken meat and strips and ham sausages, while the latter manufactures fresh and frozen chicken and turkey meat, sausages and convenience meat products.
Bell Food Group is made up of six business sub-divisions. These include Bell Switzerland, Bell International, Hilcona, Hügli, and Eisberg.
Up until now, Bell International was split into three sub-units – Bell Germany, Bell Western/Eastern Europe and Bell Hubers/Sütag.
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These “remaining divisions” – Bell Germany and Bell Western/Eastern Europe – are to stay “part of the business area, but will be organised by country”, the company said.
Last October, the Cher Mignon charcuterie maker announced that Marco Tschanz would take over as CEO from Lorenz Wyss, who is due to retire in June.
Tschanz has worked at Bell for nine years, joining first as CFO and as a member of the executive board in 2014. In 2019, he was appointed to lead Bell Food Group’s international business area and also stepped into manage the Eisberg convenience salads, fruits and vegetables brand in 2022.
As he transitions into the CEO role, Tschanz will head up Bell Switzerland and the newly independent Hubers/Sütag business unit.
Martin Schygulla, who previously managed the Bell Germany business, will lead the Bell International division from 1 June. Mike Häfeli, previously at Bühler Group, already stepped into Tschanz’s former role at Eisberg at the start of this year.
Bell Food Group saw annual net revenue grow 4.6% in 2023 to Sfr4.5bn ($4.94bn). Sales volumes increased 1.1% year-on-year to 547 million kilograms. Yearly EBIT was up 1.1% to to Sfr164.7m.
The Bell International subdivision booked 7.5% growth in revenue, at Sfr1.1bn. Sales volumes also increased 2.5% to 208.1m kg.
