Spain is the world’s second largest importer of cocoa solids and a large cocoa processing country with a rich chocolate tradition. ofi was established in Spain in 2011 in Valencia and increased the cocoa powder proposition through the acquisition of Macao, a well-recognised brand with a strong market share.
Our management team has over 30 years’ experience in cocoa and maintains strong relationships with Spanish chocolate and confectionery manufacturers, snack companies and powder users. We have created a marketing and manufacturing centre of excellence for cocoa powder and are a leading supplier to the chocolate beverage and biscuit industries in the Iberian and North African markets. The Macao brand is sold in 36 countries globally with a strong growing presence in Middle East and Russian regions.
Macao adds value to cocoa cakes coming mainly from the Ivory Coast, completing the supply chain model. The Valencia plant leads the way with excellent Food Safety Quality Assurance processes.
In December 2012, we acquired SEDA Soluble Coffee, a brand which has been associated with the production of private label and bulk coffee since 1957. A new, accomplished management team were implemented into the business.
SEDA Outspan Iberia SLU has 3 locations. A manufacturing plant in Palencia; the centre in Villamuriel manages packing and logistics; whilst the office in Madrid supports the commercial activities.
At our plant in Palencia we process soluble coffee and mixes of coffee with chicory or cereals, pure instant chicory and mixes of cereals without coffee.
We operate robust quality audit systems and maintain third-party certifications. The coffee operations in Spain primarily service the European market, whilst the plant in Vietnam supports Asia.
Through SEDA we offer private label solutions to coffee customers across Europe with a range of different packaging types.
International Women's Day is a moment to celebrate the progress toward achieving gender equality and women's empowerment. But it's also a chance to reflect and consider what still needs to be done to help achieve gender parity worldwide.
Take cocoa production, for example. On average, women earn only 21% of the income that men do1. At ofi, as part of our Cocoa Compass sustainability ambition and as a signatory to the UN Women's Empowerment Principles, we've been promoting gender equality in our cocoa supply chain for many years. I'll explain three ways we've approached this where I'm from, in Ghana.
By Clara Tessler, Nutrition & Health Manager, ofi
Malnutrition and poor health around the world continue to negatively impact businesses as result of working days lost to illness and reduced workforce productivity.
As well as benefiting employees, investments by companies in health and wellbeing can lead to better employee engagement, reduced absenteeism and higher performance and productivity.
We want to create an environment where employees want to come to work every day – it’s in everyone’s best interest.
To that end, at ofi we’ve set a goal that by 2030, everyone in our primary workforce will have access to nutrition support. This is the goal we are working towards to ensure the health and wellbeing of all our employees, driven by our purpose to be the change for good food and healthy future.
In 2021, with support from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), ofi began the roll-out of the Workforce Nutrition Alliance’s Workforce Nutrition Scorecard to assess our baseline and develop or strengthen workplace nutrition programs that tackle issues related to malnutrition across our worksites globally. This includes initiatives across four pillars: healthy food at work, nutrition education, nutrition-focused and breastfeeding support, and resources for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
Discover more from my discussion with GAIN and the Consumer Goods Forum in the Healthier Lives podcast:
Company and industry veteran retires after a stellar career spanning over 25 years with the company and 40 years in the industry
ofi, a global leader in naturally good food and beverage ingredients, today announced that the CEO of its cocoa business, and the group’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Gerard Manley, will retire at the end of June 2023.