Snacking company Mondelēz International has announced its ambition to expand its 'Harmony' programme, the company’s sustainable wheat sourcing initiative.
Under the expansion, the group will cover 100% of its biscuit brands in the European Union by 2020, up from 60% of its biscuits production last year.
Through the programme's expansion, annual production of wheat under the sustainable conditions set out by the Harmony charter would increase to over 280,000 tons by 2022.
This would cover the volume of wheat needed to produce the company’s entire European biscuit portfolio, adding brands such as belVita, Milka Biscuits and Barni.
Manufacturers' Responsibility
“European consumers increasingly equate high-quality products with sustainable production. They’re aware of the impact of their food choices on the environment and have high expectations of manufacturers to take their share of responsibility,” said Hubert Weber, executive vice president and president Europe.
“As Europe’s largest biscuit baker, we can play a role in tackling challenges like climate change and resource shortages by promoting sustainable farming practices and improving biodiversity in our supply chain. In doing so, we contribute to creating a fairer, more transparent and integrated supply chain, in which good quality for consumers means a good impact on farmers and society.”
At present, the Harmony programme involves 1,700 farmers, 13 millers and 21 cooperatives across six markets (Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Spain), producing 177,000 tons of wheat for the company’s biscuit brands in 2017.
Harmony was developed 10 years ago in France with the help of NGOs, agronomists, environmental specialists and research organisations, to champion biodiversity and good environmental practices in wheat production in Europe.
Mondelēz recently reported a 5.5% increase in net revenue in the first fiscal quarter of 2018, equalling $6.77 billion and beating analysts' estimates.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O'Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
