Bell Food Group adjusts corporate structure and plans German expansion

Bell Food Group is changing its corporate structure, which will enable the Switzerland-based meat company to expand its production capacity for the German market.

The adjustments come in response to the firm’s growth over the last few years.

Former Bell Germany will be combined with Bell International to form a new business area.

During the course of the year, Hilcona, Eisberg and Hügli organisational units were merged into the Convenience business segment.

The IT unit will be separated from the Finance and Services business segment to form a  central executive department in order to handle the growing complexity. These organisational changes will become effective from 1 July 2019.

Under the Bell International business segment, the current Bell International division will be renamed as Bell Western/Eastern Europe division, which will include Bell France, Bell Poland and Bell Hungary units.

Due to size and independent marketing activities, Hubers/Sütag will have its own division in the future.

Along with organisational structure, management is also being adjusted.

Bell Switzerland will continue to be managed by CEO Lorenz Wyss.

The present CFO Marco Tschanz will head the new Bell International business area, as well as the central IT executive department.

Bell Food Group will have Volker Baltes as head of the Convenience business area and Xavier Buro as CFO. Baltes has several years of experience in the food processing industry.

As a result of the changes in the corporate structure, former members of the group’s executive board Daniel Böhny and Christian Schröder will become division heads.

Given that fresh convenience is a growing market in Germany, the firm plans to further bolster its position.

The company stated: “For the German production facility in Bad Wünnenberg, a concept is currently being drawn up for the production of fresh convenience products.”

An aspect of these changes involves the transfer of part of its former range of meat convenience products to Marchtrenk in Austria, where a convenience facility is currently being constructed.

The company added: “In addition to the planned fresh convenience range, its surplus capacity can be used for the production of meat convenience products. This makes the new facility even more attractive for employees and customer.”