November 24, 2008 - Vaasan & Vaasan Group renews its organization. The leading bakery company in Finland and the Baltic region transfers its region led organization to business area-driven organization from January 1, 2009. The renewal strengthens e.g. the Group's growth possibilities within the Baltic Sea Region.
The Vaasan & Vaasan Group is one of the leading bakery operators in Northern Europe. It has operations in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway. The Group's net sales will be approximately 420 million euros in 2008 and it employs some 3 100 persons.
Vaasan & Vaasan Group's business areas will be the following: Fresh Bakery Products, Bake-Off Products and Crisp Bread.
"Our aim is to be the leading baking company in the Baltic Sea region. Our market position is already strong in this region, we have leading brands in the field and we bake consumers' favourite products. We are now moving into next development phase in our operations. With this change we will capitalize on growth possibilities, when we better utilize synergies, competencies and best practices of each unit in different countries for the benefit of the whole company. At the same time this change enhances our possibilities to be an even better partner to our customers than before", says Group's CEO Kalle Tanhuanpää.
Director of the Vaasan & Vaasan Group's Baltic Region, Ants Promann, is appointed as a Director, Fresh Bakery Products Business Area, starting from January 1, 2009. Director Lenita Ingelin is responsible for the Bake-Off Products Business Area. Juri Jolkkonen, currently Marketing Director of the Finnish operations, is appointed as a Director, Crisp Bread Business Area. Juri Jolkkonen will take on his new duties from December 1, 2008. Director Vesa Moisio, currently in charge of the Finnish Operations, is appointed a Director, Steering & Control and Purchasing.
"We will inform about the clarifications of responsibilities caused by the change within the next few weeks. They will not cause significant changes to our co-operation with customers ", continues Tanhuanpää.
The new Group management team consists of the following members: Kalle Tanhuanpää,
Ants Promann, Lenita Ingelin, Juri Jolkkonen, Vesa Moisio, Harri Roos (CFO), Kalevi Saikkonen (R&D) and Anja Kuparinen (HR).
Vaasan & Vaasan Group
The Vaasan & Vaasan Group is an international forerunner in the baking industry. It is the leading bakery company in Finland and the Baltic region. The Group is also the largest thin crisp and the second-largest crisp bread producer in the world, and a leading Nordic operator in bake-off products. In 2008 the Group's net sales will be approximately EUR 420 million. The Group employs some 3,300 people in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Norway.