VAN HEES GmbH celebrates 70 anniversary
This year, VAN HEES GmbH (Walluf) celebrates its 70 anniversary. The company, which supplies its products to more than 80 countries worldwide, is one of the market leaders in quality additives, spices and spice blends, herbs, marinades, emulsions and flavors in meat and sausage processing. In the anniversary year, it is already clear: VAN HEES is and will remain a family business.
The company was on 29. March 1947 founded by Kurt van Hees in Wiesbaden-Biebrich. Already in the middle of the 40 years, the business graduate discovered the advantages of food phosphates in meat processing and, as a pioneer in this field, developed many well-known and patented quality additives. With the founding of VAN HEES GmbH Kurt van Hees created a company whose developments are inextricably linked to the history of sausage making. VAN HEES has developed numerous technologies that have become indispensable in modern meat processing. Well-known brands such as PLASTAL, PÖK, SMAK, BOMBAL and SCHINKO have emerged as highly effective guarantors for more safety and taste. Another successful product is the Lake additive ZARTIN, which has become a leading product in the industry and has just been optimized again with the ZARTIN Gourmet CA line.
To the number 1 in terms of spices
With the acquisition of the United Spice Mills in 1952, VAN HEES entered a new era. In addition to technology and additives, spices and marinades have now become the company's second pillar. VAN HEES minces spices and herbs in its own mill in Wuppertal - one of the most modern in Europe. This constantly creates new spice compositions and blends as well as marinades and oils. Already 2013 opened the VAN HEES GmbH in Wuppertal the first plant in Europe, in which spices and quality additives are produced and certified according to the strict Halal guidelines. With XALUMX halal-certified raw materials and equipment, where Halal products are manufactured under strict Halal guidelines, not only 350% halon compliance is ensured, but also cross-contamination with Haram (after the Sharia impure) products excluded.
Closely linked to meat research
To this day, the company's history is characterized by the continuous expansion of the offer of customized products and services. For continuous optimization in the production of meat products, the company invests permanently in research and development. For recipe optimization, product analysis and individual developments, but also for training customers from all over the world, a modern technology center is available. Here, product ideas, often in collaboration with the customer, can be promoted quickly and purposefully. Questions regarding the production of meat products, product and product range extensions are also answered by the specialist consultants directly at the customer's site. The "Kurt van Hees Research Funding" has been supporting research and project work on meat for more than 10 years.
Operating at ten locations worldwide
Today, 400, mostly long-time employees, work at the production sites in Walluf, Wuppertal, Forbach (France), Cape Town (South Africa) and Moscow. Including its sales locations, VAN HEES operates at ten locations: two in Germany, two in France and one each in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, the USA and Russia. Largest production site and headquarters of the overall management is still Walluf. The company is certified according to IFS (International Food Standard) at the highest level. VAN HEES partly purchases its raw materials directly in the countries of origin and thus deliberately supports regional producers. The corporate philosophy also includes being aware of the responsibility for the environment: VAN HEES no longer manufactures its oil-based marinades with palm oil, but with rapeseed oil.
As a family business on the way to the future
VAN HEES is and will remain a family business. "We are proud that, in an environment of consolidation, we have been able to maintain our independence and further develop our business," said Julia van Hees, who along with Brigitte and Ilonka van Hees and Robert Becht and Frédérick Guet, directors of VAN HEES forms. "Our primary goal is to set up this traditional company future-proof for the next few years. This is only possible in a team. "The management team has recently been reorganized. After around 25 years, Jürgen Georg Hüniken resigned as Chairman of the Board due to his age. In the spirit of appreciation and reliability, Robert Becht, formerly a member of the management of VAN HEES GmbH and Frédérick Guet, has until now been managing directors of the VAN HEES companies in France and Russia, taking over two from their own ranks.
