Glocken Bäckerei Starts Most Modern Industrial Bakery

Cologne/Bergkirchen, 20.01.10

1,100 stores supplied from Bergkirchen - 40 per cent reduction in energy consumption

One of the most modern industrial bakeries to be found in Germany officially begins operation today (20/1) in Bergkirchen near Dachau. The production facility costing 80 million euros for the Glocken Bäckerei, a member company of Cologne-based REWE Group, has an area of about 30,000 square metres, almost as large as four football fields. In future, 400 employees will be processing 36,000 tonnes of flour alone every year so that they can supply more than 1,100 REWE stores and PENNY discounters with packaged and bulk baked goods. But Bergkirchen also sets standards for sustainability. The pioneering energy concept, the use of district heating from the waste-fired combination power and heating plant in Geiselbullach and the heat recovery system all combine to lower primary energy consumption by 40 per cent in comparison with a conventional industrial bakery. The large-scale facility project was completed in about 15 months of construction time; the official ground-breaking ceremony was on 28 October 2008.

"Today is also a sign of entrepreneurial courage. Despite the crisis, we have continued to invest and have not allowed the pessimistic attitudes found everywhere at this time to affect us. The commissioning of the industrial bakery is a milestone for REWE Group. It represents an element of our overall strategy and focuses our profile in the merchandise group of bread and baked goods, a very important sector. In addition, we are rigorously continuing our strategy of verticalising the procurement chain. Finally, we are clearly setting a sign for sustainability. Forty per cent lower energy consumption in comparison with a similar industrial bakery is an excellent value and an indication that we do not only talk about sustainability, but also practice it every day, even in economically challenging times," declared Manfred Esser, Management Board member in charge of Strategic Purchasing at REWE Group, in Bergkirchen.

"I am delighted that 400 new jobs have been created here in Bergkirchen in this economically difficult time. The decision to locate the facility here is a clear sign of the attractiveness of Bavaria. The Free State stands for the successful combination of economy and ecology. Examples such as the Glocken Bäckerei in Bergkirchen are impressive evidence of this. Moreover, Bavaria stands for the combination of traditional trades and state-of-the-art technology. Bergkirchen is yet another successful example of this," said Bavaria's deputy minister president and minister of economics, Martin Zeil.

"Sales of 160 million euros make the Glocken Bäckerei one of the most significant providers of baked goods in Germany. We market our self-service baked goods under brand names such as Vitapan or Glocken Bäckerei-Aufbackware (pre-baked goods). Under the name Mühlhof, we now offer more than 30 products from controlled organic cultivation. The Glocken Bäckerei has also been the national supplier of REWE organic baked goods since October 2007. The more than 5,700 REWE and PENNY stores in Germany sell the lion's share of the Glocken self-service products. Bergkirchen doubles our capacity. This is the foundation which will enable us to remain on a course of expansion," said Guido Siebenmorgen, managing director of the production facilities of REWE Group.

Hansjörg Christmann, district administrator of Dachau District, adds: "The acquisition of such a large project with effects felt far beyond the district borders is something very special. REWE Group is a reliable partner for the development of such a project. While the company had its own concrete plans, it was always prepared to take our interests into account as well." "I can see nothing but benefits. Especially because we have an architecture here which fits well into its general surroundings despite all of the requirements for its functional operation," emphasised Simon Landmann, lord mayor of the Bergkirchen municipality.

The 400 employees in Bergkirchen produce 400,000 rolls, 120,000 loaves of bread, 100,000 ciabatta loaves, 80,000 baguettes, 100,000 loaves of toast bread and more every day during the three-shift operation.

Contact

REWE GROUP-Corporate Communications
Tel.: 0221 - 149-1050
E-Mail: presse(at)rewe-group.com

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