Snack World - February 2016 - (Page 20)

Global Presence, 'Can-Do' Attitude BY SARAH HUBBART AND KERRY LYNCH F ounded in 1939, Fuchs North America was originally known as the Baltimore Spice Company. The company grew through several plant expansions in the 1950s. Today, Fuchs North America is part of the world's largest privately held seasoning and spice company - The Fuchs Group. Employing more than 2,500 people worldwide and headquartered in Dissen, Germany, The Fuchs Group has 14 manufacturing plants around the globe. This allows Fuchs to sustain substantial market presence throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. The New Year brings a fresh start for Fuchs North America. The company will soon put the finishing touches on its new North American headquarters that are set to open later this year. The 21-acre campus in suburban Baltimore will double Fuchs' manufacturing capacity and increase its product development capabilities. The building will include a new sensory lab along with a spacious presentation kitchen. "This is a very exciting time for us," said Ken Wuestenfeld, vice-president of sales and technical services for Fuchs North America. "The headquarters will be a true state-of-the-art facility that enables us to develop, manufacture and deliver customized seasonings and flavor solutions faster and better than ever." Mr. Wuestenfeld is responsible for managing Fuchs' sales, R&D, regulatory and marketing departments. He also handles development of the company's overall US strategy, which results in some of the best marketing analysis and innovative products available in the industry today. He also works with international affiliates to understand the latest global trends and technologies available to ensure Fuchs customers receive superior support. 20 Snack World February 2016 www.sfa.org "[Our presence] is what makes it possible for us to support and supply companies of all sizes and in all regions - including large multinational firms that demand absolute consistency in the taste and quality of the food products they design, manufacture and deliver to their customers all over the world," Mr. Wuestenfeld said. Fuchs North America's mission and culture reflect its focus on customer satisfaction. The company's vision is to deliver innovative seasoning solutions through technical expertise while providing superior service. But don't let Fuchs' global size fool you - it often operates like its entrepreneurial founders when serving its customers. Multi-level customer relationships allow Fuchs North America to deliver on-trend flavor solutions in a timely manner. Fuchs North America provides a full range of spices and seasoning blends including more than 50,000 Fuchs proprietary seasoning formulas. It meets its customers' every need by recreating specific seasoning tastes or creating unique blends for new products. Recently the company began introducing unique seasoning collections based on the latest consumer trends, such as the "World Barbeque Collection" that was released this fall. "It's a 'can-do' culture here at Fuchs North America," Mr. Wuestenfeld said. "We are a pretty 'flat' organization, which allows for quick decision-making and speed-to-market, which I believe is one of our competitive advantages." The company works diligently to stay ahead of changing consumer preferences. Fuchs North America knows that many of today's consumers have an in- http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - February 2016

Snack World - February 2016
Letter from SFA - Continuing the Work
News - Snack trend: Think thin
Americas to continue dominating cereal bars market
Wal-Mart to close 269 stores
Government Affairs - Year in Review, Looking Ahead
Business Member Profile - Entrepreneurial Roots
Associate Member Profile - Global Presence, ‘Can-Do’ Attitude
SNAXPO Preview - Houston, Here We Come!
SNAXPO schedule of events
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - February 2016