TOMRA Sorting Food has announced a positive six months trading since the start of 2017 thanks to the successful launch of three sorting platforms, new senior management appointments and the implementation of an enhanced customer support service.
Revenues for the second quarter of 2017 were reported as up from the same period last year, and TOMRA Sorting Food’s order intake was up quarter over quarter.
The launch of the TOMRA 5A and TOMRA 5B platforms at the end of 2016 generated a positive order momentum during the first half of the year. Additionally, the food sorting systems manufacturer launched the TOMRA 3C sorter for grains and seeds earlier this year.
New senior management appointments in customer service in recent years, both globally and regionally, have been supported with the recruitment of additional customer service personnel. This has further enhanced TOMRA Sorting Food’s customer care proposition in terms of speed of response and overall effectiveness.
Commenting on the business’s half year performance, head of TOMRA Sorting Food, Ashley Hunter, says: “We are pleased to have maintained our positive momentum since the start of the year. The fundamental reason for our success is our absolute dedication to delivering our brand promise of trusted technology and partnership for better business and environment. This allows us to form highly effective relationships with our customers, clearly understand their needs and work with them to develop and grow their businesses.
Major trends influencing TOMRA Sorting Food’s performance in international markets going forward include the growth in the global middle class, which is anticipated to be more than 3.2bn people by 2020 with a significant proportion from within developing countries. Similarly, the move towards urbanization in China, South East Asia and India is also creating opportunities for TOMRA Sorting Food’s technologies to be utilized, providing automation to replace labor as people move to the cities.
Ashley adds: “The developed world is being influenced by the growing demand of the increasing middle classes, especially in relation to exporting to developing countries, as well as sourcing raw food materials from them. This coincides with the need for brand protection and traceability for all food processors.
“As many of our customers undoubtedly have the potential to evolve into global brands, there are significant opportunities for TOMRA Sorting Food to support those businesses and share our collective knowledge of international markets with them.”
Explaining how the business maintains its position in the market, Thomas Molnar, TOMRA Sorting Food’s global sales and marketing communications director, commented:
“In the short-term we are strengthening, sustaining and growing in Western Europe and North America, while in the short to medium-term we are also seeking to develop in fast-growing markets in Eastern Europe, South America, China and Asia.”
Concluding, Ashley Hunter says: “We understand that our customers’ challenges are increasing as consumers demand higher quality and safer food, without significantly increasing the price of their products. Automation and effective use of our sorting technologies will enable our customers to meet those challenges, especially as skilled labor increases in price and scarcity.
“Further global challenges come in the form of food waste - for example, around 45 percent of all fruit and vegetables are wasted - and energy efficiency. By investing in our sorting technologies, food processors can both limit waste and reduce energy usage, in turn improving yield and profitability.
“As we enter the second half of 2017, we are pleased with our progress so far and look forward to continuing to implement our plans for the remainder of the year whilst further delivering our brand promise to customers.”
FOr more information:
Marijke Bellemans
Tel: +32 (0)16 74 28 17