A Journey with Surprises and Purpose
Interview with Nadia Meier, Managing Director Unilever Food Solutions & Langnese DACH
Asparagus without Lukull Sauce? Unimaginable in most German households. A warm summer day without a Magnum? Also a no-go for many. Lukull and Magnum are just two major brands in the extensive portfolio of Unilever Food Solutions & Langnese. The Hamburg-based company combines experience and passion to support customers with practical, sustainable solutions – solutions that go far beyond excellent products.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mrs. Meier, Unilever and Langnese - two renowned players, who have been operating under one roof since 2021. How did this come about?
Nadia Meier: Unilever has been active in the food sector since 1938 and has always collaborated with different companies, including restaurants, caterers, hotel chains, gas stations, clients from leisure facilities, and community feeding. Since 2021, we have been operating as Unilever Food Solutions and Langnese, two market leaders whose areas complement each other perfectly, have teamed up, pooled their strengths to offer customers better products and services.
Wirtschaftsforum: Have the expectations been met?
Nadia Meier: Yes. The customer feedback has been consistently positive. Of course, we had a lot to learn and also setbacks to overcome, but that is part of it; one learns from it and becomes stronger. Transparency and open communication are very important on this journey. It is necessary to bring along employees and customers, to communicate where we stand and where we want to go. It is a journey with surprises.
Wirtschaftsforum: How is the company positioned today, after the merger?
Nadia Meier: In the DACH region, we employ around 350 people, and the revenue from Food Solutions accounts for about 20% of Unilever's business in DACH. Even though Covid was a massive disruption, we have grown steadily over the past years, had many successful launches, and were able to explore new areas with brands like Hellmann's and The Vegetarian Butcher. Plant-based products and sustainability overall play a central role for us.
Wirtschaftsforum: What exactly does that mean?
Nadia Meier: For us, sustainability is not a temporary strategy, but a core idea. As early as 2010, we launched the Sustainable Living Plan and the 'United against waste' initiative. Plant-based products are a focus for all providers. However, we want to go a step further, not just introduce innovative, sustainable products to the market, but also demonstrate how to work with them. For this, we offer support and training. We understand sustainability as a complex challenge that includes environmentally friendly and fairly produced products, waste prevention, and the use of renewable energies, but also issues such as human rights, health and well-being, or the future of work.
Wirtschaftsforum: What characterizes the company strategy in addition to this focus on sustainability?
Nadia Meier: For us, it's always about people and solutions. The company resembles a family. There's a close togetherness and a very inclusive and tolerant corporate culture. We aim to develop our employees and at the same time accept them as they are. We operate in the B2B or, as we say, People-to-People sector. Currently, our customers face significant challenges, and we try to support them. We work on solutions and target individual customers specifically. For this purpose, our team of professional chefs – the Culinary Advisory Service – and customer advisors are always available to support our customers. For example, we have launched a Future Menu Report and implemented it in a practical way. Here, customers are supported with recipes, techniques, and product solutions that are tailored to challenges such as staff shortages and profitability. We believe that only a business committed to purpose and values can be successful in the long term. This is particularly true for our employees and business partners, as well as the communities in which we operate.
Wirtschaftsforum: The focus on the customer runs like a common thread through the entire company. Can you give more examples?
Nadia Meier: This includes, for example, the major issue of digitalization; here too, the focus will be on people. We want to not only digitalize but transform, change behaviors towards the customer. We always strive for practice-oriented solutions for our customers. If they ultimately say that we have helped them to develop further, that is our greatest compliment.
Wirtschaftsforum: Where do you see the company in the market in the coming years?
Nadia Meier: Our mission is shaped by the idea of being a ‘Force for Good’. We want to be the best solution provider. Our years of experience and a past we are proud of help us to continuously develop our business, try new things, and take different paths. If we want to support, inspire, and excite customers, we need to interact with them at eye level.