The visuals below show the main characteristics of the upstream and downstream value chain and the company's position in the dairy and transport value chains.
Our products and services
Our inputs: milk, cheese and other raw materials
Besides milk and cheese, the main resources are transport equipment and fuel. Milk is mainly supplied by dairy farmers under contract to Royal A-ware. Thanks to our personal contact with dairy farmers and our no-nonsense approach, we continue to see growth in the number of dairy farmers supplying milk to us. Next to milk supplied by dairy farmers, we also buy externally available milk. By combining these two, we can continue to purchase enough milk to produce our dairy products.
Our outputs: dairy products
We make various milk and cheese products: milk, yoghurt, mozzarella, whipped cream, different types of cheese, as well as grated and melted cheese. Royal A-ware produces mainly private label products and supplies the food industry, retail and food service customers. The main market for us is Europe, but we have customers worldwide. With our transport company, we are also specialist in transporting agricultural products, animal feed, chilled food products, dry and liquid food products. The main markets for our transport activities are in north-western Europe.
Overview of sustainability-related targets in terms of significant groups of products and services, customer categories, geographical areas and stakeholders:
|
Type |
Target |
|
|
Significant products: |
Dairy products |
Nutritional value i.r.t. environmental impact |
|
Greenhouse gas reduction targets |
||
|
Targets in respect of dairy farming |
||
|
Significant services: |
Road transport |
Greenhouse gas reduction targets |
|
Significant customers: |
Specific to A-ware Dairy: retail, food service, food industry |
Nutritional value i.r.t. environmental impact |
|
Greenhouse gas reduction targets |
||
|
Targets in respect of dairy farming |
||
|
Specific to AB Texel: Producers and/or processors of agricultural products, dairy products, animal feed and building materials. |
Greenhouse gas reduction targets |
|
|
Geographical areas |
No targets have been set on specific geographical areas |
|
|
Stakeholders (other than customers) |
Dairy farmers |
Target resilient dairy farming |
What are the risks and opportunities?
Royal A-ware has identified the following risks and opportunities:
Interaction between risks and opportunities in relation to strategy
Royal A-ware has conducted this analysis on impacts, risks and opportunities in relation to ESG-topics for the first time. As a result, no changes of material impacts, risks and opportunities from the previous reporting period can be reported.
How do we engage our stakeholders?
By structuring our organisation around customers and markets, we seek common ground to address societal challenges and foster partnerships. Our stakeholder engagement is deeply aligned with the company's purpose and strategy. We strive for open, meaningful and effective dialogue with both our internal and external stakeholders about not only our activities, but also about their needs and expectations. This approach enables mutual learning and ensures that diverse perspectives are taken into account and embedded in our ESG strategy. For further details, refer to the 'Processes' column in the table below.
|
Stakeholder engagement overview (non-exhaustive) |
|||
|
Stakeholders |
Processes |
purpose |
|
|
Employees |
Individual employees |
Regular meetings, employee development process, regular video updates by CEO, Speakap and AB Connect. |
consultation |
|
Work councils |
inform, consult |
||
|
Suppliers |
Through collaboration with partners |
Regular meetings |
consultation |
|
Individual suppliers |
|||
|
Government |
At different levels with representatives in all the countries where we operate. |
Theme meetings, multi-stakeholder projects, through membership of industry associations |
inform, consult |
|
Financial institutions |
Financial institutions |
Bilateral meetings |
inform, consult |
|
Industry associations / NGOs |
NZO, BCZ, ZuivelNL, Gemzu, VNO-NCW, EDA, TLN, |
Through direct or indirect membership |
inform, consult |
|
Customers |
· Retail |
Bilateral meetings |
consultation |
|
Dairy farmers |
Individual farmers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain. Sounding panels in the Netherlands and Belgium |
Meetings |
inform, consult |
|
Strategic partners |
Various companies |
Bilateral meetings |
consultation |
We carefully evaluate stakeholder input while upholding our responsibility to safeguard the long-term continuity of Royal A-ware. In doing so, we emphasise the creation of long-term sustainable value. We acknowledge that stakeholders may have diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives and interests. Insights regarding sustainability-related matters are regularly communicated by the ESG director to the Sustainability Steering Group and the Management Board.