HELSINKI, Finland – Paulig in Sweden exports its’ Santa Maria assortment to more than 40 markets around the world and is thereby one of Sweden’s leading food exporters. For this, the company was today awarded Food Export Company of the Year 2022. The award was presented by the Swedish Minister of Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs, Anna Hallberg, at the Swedish Food Federation’s annual industry event.
The Food Export Company of the Year award is a collaboration between the Swedish Food Federation, Business Sweden and the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Paulig is the 22nd winner of the prize which, according to the statutes, is to be “awarded to a Swedish food company which, through creativity and strong efforts, has broken new ground for its company’s export business and achieved great success during the year”.
“We are so proud to be awarded Food Export Company of the Year. Export has always been an important business for us, but it is especially rewarding to see how our strategic choices have accelerated it further. The Santa Maria brand is known for spices and Tex Mex concepts and we are now creating new food traditions in both Europe and Asia, at the same time as we gather new influences”, says Anders Hansson, Commercial Director Retail, Paulig Scandinavia & Central Europe.
The CEO of Business Sweden, Jan Larsson, read out the jury’s motivation:
“The Food Export Company of the Year award is given to a company whose success extends far beyond Sweden’s borders. The recipe for success is a strategic shift towards increased international expansion, driven by a team of passionate and creative taste lovers. The result of their hard work is impressive: Every week, millions of people in over 40 countries gather to enjoy the company’s products with their loved ones. Especially on Fridays.
This year’s Food Export Company of the Year is a leader in Europe within its category and has all the prerequisites to conquer the rest of the world. And it’s not just their tasty products that deserve to be spread globally – they also have some of the industry’s most ambitious and respectable sustainability goals.
Paulig ‘s factories shall be carbon neutral by 2023, and their packaging recyclable and made from renewable or recycled materials by 2030
As part of its sustainability work, the company has recently initiated a groundbreaking collaboration with Swedish farmers to use more sustainable methods when cultivating Swedish raw material in their best-selling product.
This collaboration will reduce the climate impact by as much as up to 30 percent. The company is a role model for all producers who are serious about minimizing their impact on the climate and environment.
This year’s Food Export Company of the is successful both on the domestic market and abroad. In recent years, exports have grown in double digits outside the Nordic region and the company has now also entered the Asian market. With an export share of as much as 62 percent, it rises far above the industry average of 30 percent. ”
The last part of the motivation was read by the Swedish Minister of Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs, Anna Hallberg:
“The Food Export Company of the Year shows what enormous opportunities there are for Swedish producers on the global market. From the border between Texas and Mexico to little Mölndal in Sweden and further out into the big world – Food Export Company of the Year 2022 is Paulig with the Santa Maria brand at the forefront!”
On site from Paulig to receive the award were Henrik Samuelson, SVP Scandinavia & Central Europe, and Anders Hansson, Commercial Director for Scandinavia and Europe. In addition to the honor, Paulig was rewarded with SEK 300,000 in export services from Business Sweden.
“The reason to this award’s existent is because exports are so extremely important for the Swedish food and beverage industry. Sweden is a small and extremely concentrated market, and for many Swedish producers it is in exports that they find profitability, growth and potential. There is also another important aspect, the simple fact that the more we export, the more we produce in Sweden. And the more we can produce, the more we strengthen the Swedish supply capacity, says Björn Hellman, CEO of the Swedish Food Federation.
About the Food Export Company of the Year award
The Food Export Company of the Year award was established in 1998 and is handed out for the 22nd time this year (cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic). The prize awards a Swedish food and beverage company that through creativity and fine efforts has broken new ground for its company’s exports and achieved great direct success during the year. At the same time, the company in question must have laid the foundation for a long-term export development.
