"The nutritional profile, taste and texture must be consistent across every single pack," explains Richard Bailey, Commercial Director at Hügli in the UK. "To ensure this, we first check the micronutrients contained in the first batch in the laboratory. Subsequent production runs are then also monitored to ensure consistent quality. "Special standards also apply to functional food products. For example, shakes that serve as meal replacements are subject to certain EU standards, while the composition of sports powders must comply with the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). "Our customers also often have specific requirements for the products we manufacture for them. For example, they want vegan or high-protein variants as well as ingredients that meet certain animal welfare standards," reports Richard Bailey.
Looking to the future, the functional food expert also sees other trends on the horizon. These include ingredients such as hemp, canabidiol and collagen. Hügli in Redditch is well prepared to meet the growing demand for foods with added benefits. Around 3800 tons of the various mixtures left the 9000 square metre plant last year. The site still has room for improvement: Up to 5000 tons of powder mixtures could run through the lines here every year. The site has also been making preparations for another important issue for some time: "We may not find out what Brexit means for us until the last minute. That's why we've been working for two years to prepare for various possible scenarios," says Chris Hurt.Great care in small bags
16.04.2020
hügli's site in Redditch, UK, produced 57 million individual items last year. The reason for the high number is that the company specializes primarily in sachets. In addition to soups and spice mixes, they also contain many "functional food" products, i.e. foods that have additional benefits.
"If we were to line up all the portion packs that we produce in a year, the bag route would theoretically run from our factory gate in Redditch to the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles," Chris Hurt jokingly reports. However, the Managing Director at Hügli in the UK naturally has much better ideas for using the food produced in his company. While soups, sauces and spices are used for pure enjoyment, the majority of the mixtures also fulfill additional nutritional functions. Whether they help with weight loss, compensate for deficiencies caused by illness or support athletes with their dietary supplements. The practical sachets, which the company specializes in, support the high level of convenience of the products.
Whether conventional foods or functional foods - the team of around 100 people here produces most of the products for its British customers' own brands. A small proportion is also sold under the Hügli and Granovita brands, the Hügli brand for vegetarian and vegan foods, to wholesalers and retailers. The company was founded in 1981 and has belonged to Hügli since 2008, which has continuously invested in the site from the outset. For example, it had an extension built to the existing building in 2010, which doubled the space. "Functional food products have been part of the range in Redditch from the outset and now account for around half of the production volume. Their production is very complex and requires special care.