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Ausnutria expands sales in changing market
It was a challenging market for dairy company Ausnutria, but the company looks to the future with confidence. Compared to the first half of 2022, turnover and profit fell slightly in the same period this year - mainly in euros, but a recovery is underway. In addition to China, including in the US and with more goat milk products and also probiotics. A cost saving and efficiency operation should also help.
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Calculated in euros, the decline in turnover is large, 9,1% compared to the first half of 2022 (€465 million versus €517,5 million). However, currency fluctuations play a major role in this. Calculated in Chinese yuan, the decline in turnover is only 3,7%. Net profit fell from €31,6 million to €24,4 million, or by 22,8%. Calculated in yuan, the profit decline was also slightly lower.
There is something to be said for both views. The focus of production at Ausnutria is clearly in the Netherlands, the focus of sales and the ownership of the company is in China.
China gradually became somewhat less important for Ausnutria's earnings. In the first half of 2022, the country still accounted for 84% of sales, but in the first half of this year the importance had fallen to 80%.
Registrations China
This means that China remains by far the most important market for Ausnutria. The company notices that the challenges there are increasing, with a shrinking population, declining purchasing power and tough competition, but also with increasingly strict rules for continuing to sell infant food. Ausnutria is therefore very pleased that it has once again succeeded in obtaining a number of important product registrations.
The second sales region for Ausnutria is the EU, but the company also expects a lot from the United States in the coming years. There it received market approval from the FDA for goat's milk-based baby food for the first time. Expectations are high, says CEO Bart van der Meer (photo).
In the meantime, Ausnutria is also further expanding its product portfolio, especially towards probiotics. From a production perspective, this segment may be close to infant nutrition, but it is nevertheless aimed at a completely different market segment.
Amalthea
The company continues to invest heavily in the Netherlands. The most important thing for the near future is the construction of a new drying tower for semi-finished child food in Heerenveen. The special thing about it is that it is completely electric and therefore gas and nitrogen-free.
Earlier this year, the company took a 50% stake in Amalthea BV, according to it semi-annual report from the parent company for the sum of €18,4 million. Other interests also produced a positive result, such as in Farmel.