On 14.06.2022, the representatives' meeting of Landgard eG took place within the IPM Summer Edition - for the first time as a hybrid event. The representatives' meeting is the highest decision-making body of the Landgard growers' cooperative.
The Supervisory Board and the Management Board of Landgard eG at the constituent meeting of the Supervisory Board after the Representatives' Meeting. f.l. at the table: Dirk Schwichtenberg, Willi Andree, Joachim Voigt, Nina Keune, Martin Flintrop, Hilko Dahlke (former member of the Supervisory Board), Carsten Bönig (Board of Management Landgard eG), Wolfgang Schubert, Pia Vellmanns (Assistant to the Board of Management Landgard eG), Andrea Velmans, Bert Schmitz, Dirk Bader (Board of Management Landgard eG), Robert Sauer (Board of Management Landgard eG) and Peter Zander. Digitally connected in the background: Sylvia Wegelin, Sonja Brink and Manfred Rieke. Photo: Landgard
Due to the hybrid format, the elected representatives of the member companies had the choice whether they wanted to participate in the meeting in person or online. Those participants* who preferred the personal exchange met - taking into account the valid guidelines and Corona precautions - on June 14, 2022 at the premises of Messe Essen. The representatives who were online were able to contribute via video, telephone or chat. The required votes were conducted in parallel by a show of hands on site in Essen and via a voting tool integrated into the video conference in real time.
Organic growth of 12%
Carsten Bönig, Member of the Management Board of Landgard eG, first presented the business figures for 2021 to the Representative Meeting in a review. Landgard achieved significant organic growth of 12% to EUR 2.315 billion in 2021 (previous year EUR 2.069 billion). Of this, EUR 1.473 billion was generated by the Flowers & Plants division and EUR 748 million by the Fruit & Vegetables division. The other divisions contributed EUR 93 million to the Landgard Group's total sales.
Other key business figures also increased compared to the previous year. Earnings before taxes (EBT), for example, amounted to EUR 12.5 million, up 91.3% on the previous year. In parallel, the economic equity increased to EUR 80.4 million.
"The positive development in fiscal 2021 is all the more pleasing for us because the underlying conditions were once again challenging. In addition to Corona-related factors such as temporary access restrictions for important customer groups and continued high costs for the implementation of comprehensive hygiene concepts, unfavorable weather conditions in important growing months and additional costs in areas such as logistics should also be mentioned here. The fact that Landgard has continued to develop positively in 2021 despite all these factors is testimony to the strength and substance of the Landgard growers' cooperative," says Carsten Bönig, CEO of Landgard eG.
On the podium at the hybrid representatives' meeting, from left, the three members of the Landgard eG Management Board Robert Sauer, Dirk Bader and Carsten Bönig, together with Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board Willi Andree and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Bert Schmitz at the microphone. Photo: Landgard
Voting and elections
In view of the positive business development in 2021, the members of the Management Board currently in office were discharged for the fiscal year 2021 during the hybrid representative meeting. In the fiscal year 2021, the Executive Board of Landgard eG initially consisted of Dirk Bader, Carsten Bönig and Karl Voges (until March 31, 2021), who had been appointed to the Executive Board of Landgard eG on an interim basis the year before as the Executive Board member responsible for the Fruit & Vegetables business unit. Effective April 1, 2021, Robert Sauer was appointed to the Executive Board of Landgard eG as the Executive Board member responsible for the Fruit & Vegetables Business Segment.
The representatives of the producers' cooperative also ratified the actions of the Supervisory Board and adopted the annual financial statements of Landgard eG for the financial year 2021. The proposal for the appropriation of profits was also approved by the representatives' meeting as presented.
New elections as scheduled
In the elections to the Supervisory Board of Landgard eG, two new elections by rotation were on the agenda. Bert Schmitz and Manfred Rieke stepped down from the Supervisory Board of Landgard eG as scheduled. Both were re-elected by the representatives. In addition, the court appointment of Joachim Voigt as a member of the Supervisory Board ended with the Representatives' Meeting. As a result of the election by the representatives at the Annual General Meeting, he is now an elected member of the Supervisory Board.
Following the election of the employee representatives at Landgard in May, the Supervisory Board of Landgard eG now consists of the employee representatives Sonja Brink, Martin Flintrop, Nina Keune, Wolfgang Schubert (representative of the executive employees), Sylvia Wegelin and Peter Zander as well as the producers Willi Andree, Manfred Rieke, Bert Schmitz, Dirk Schwichtenberg, Andrea Velmans and Joachim Voigt.
Bert Schmitz was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Landgard eG at the subsequent constituent meeting of the Supervisory Board. The previous Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Willi Andree, was also unanimously confirmed in office. Peter Zander was newly elected - also unanimously - as the second Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Landgard expects that in 2022 a high number of used water pallets from the Cash & Carry stores and from some major customers will be returned to the recycling station in Lüllingen. There, they will be sorted and passed on to further processing in a value-pure state. The buyers of the used PS water pallets to be recycled undertake to produce trays from the material again. At the recycling station in Lüllingen, the trays in good condition are sorted out for reuse.
From left: Dirk Bader (Board of Directors Landgard eG), Carsten Bönig (Board of Directors Landgard eG), Bert Schmitz (Chairman of the Supervisory Board Landgard eG), Willi Andree (Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board Landgard eG) and Robert Sauer (Board of Directors Landgard eG). Photo: Landgard
New distribution and sourcing structure for fruit & vegetables
In order to be able to meet current market requirements, Landgard has established a new sales and sourcing structure in the Fruit & Vegetables division. "We need a KAM and category management with comprehensive consumer and category knowledge as well as innovation competence and must be able to present concepts in a fact-based manner. This is the only way we can respond to the respective needs of food retailers and meet the requirements of our clientele. Our most important goal is to offer our retail partners complete annual programs covering the entire product range from all regions. To this end, we are bundling the product ranges of all our branches, thereby optimizing our market presence," says Management Board member Robert Sauer.
The new sales structure provides for six national and international KAMs with clear customer allocation. The six KAMs work in the North, South, East and West regions with regional account managers and merchandise area managers at various locations, who are also assigned to specific customers.
In addition to the sales structures, the national and international sourcing of fruit and vegetables was also reorganized and systematized. To this end, category and sourcing managers have been appointed for each product group, who are responsible for operational sourcing via clearly defined partner companies and producers in Germany and abroad.
For more information: www.landgard.de