More and more consumers want to know where the food products they consume come from and how they are produced. I am pleased with this trend. In our sector, product safety, traceability, respect for the environment and social responsibility should be self-evident. Surveys and the feedback we have gained show that consumers are confident that Paulig handles these matters well. We want to be worthy of that trust every day.

Paulig has been devoting effort to traceability for a long time. A significant proportion of the green coffee we purchase can be traced all the way to the plantation. It is our goal to reinforce the supplier chain and to further increase its transparency. We will increase the number of certified products in our range and we will raise the proportion of traceable coffee every year.

Our production processes have been trimmed environmentally to an advanced degree. In spite of this, we have managed to reduce the roasteries' energy consumption and the quantity of packaging materials year after year. We are constantly seeking new and more environmentally friendly alternatives for packaging.

We made a strong deployment in training in 2013. In addition to leadership training, the entire personnel were grounded in Paulig's philosophy of responsibility. We engage in close dialogue with our partners and we listen to the consumer through a number of channels. Responsibility in the coffee chain also means active collaboration with other players in the sector as well as improving conditions in the countries of origin - for example, with the help of the organisations International Coffee Partners and 4C in addition to the Coffee & Climate project.

In terms of results, 2013 was a good year for Paulig's Coffee Division and our position strengthened on the chosen coffee markets. Vendor, which provides out-of-home services, was merged into Paulig on 31 December 2013. The acquisition makes Paulig today a full-service coffee firm also for corporate customers, operating under the name Paulig Professional. Our regions of dynamic growth also include the Baltic countries and Russia, where our roastery in Tver will soon be running at 100% capacity and our market share has taken a favourable trend.

Although many important steps have already been taken, there are plenty of challenging jobs still to do in the years ahead. Among the foremost of these are transparency in the procurement chain and the verification of responsibility, to which we will devote effort in 2014 as part of a Paulig Group-wide project. In compliance with our environmental programme, we are continuing to work on mitigating our environmental impacts. Trust in the company is built not only on the quality of products and services but also on the deeds and ideas of the people who work there. This is why it is important for us to promote an ethical action culture in all the countries where we do business. We want Paulig to taste good, not only in terms of coffee enjoyment but also as an employer, partner and member of society.

Elisa Markula

Senior Vice President, MD
Paulig Group Coffee