Press releases

• ‘Unique opportunity to further drive growth in Brazil’ – Rob Versloot, Hero Group CEO
• JV to be run by existing Kiviks management

Lenzburg / Itatiba, December 8, 2015: The Hero Group announces it has entered into a joint venture with the leading Brazilian jam manufacturer and distributor Kiviks Marknad Alimenticias Ltda. As a result of the agreement, the Hero Group, which follows a mission to delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature, establishes its operations in the South American continent.

“We are very pleased to enter this partnership with Kiviks, which has built a market leader position in the fast growing Brazilian market for jams with its well-known premium Queensberry brand. We believe that by joining forces we have a unique opportunity to further drive growth in Brazil,” said Rob Versloot, Hero Group CEO.

“There is huge potential to increase the penetration of jams in Brazilian homes and introduce fruit-based products in new segments. This is not an easy task, and I´m happy that we have found a global partner which brings vast knowhow and experience. We believe in the success of this partnership as our mission and values are very much alike. Together we will be able to truly delight Brazilian consumers with the goodness of nature,” according to Gerto de Rooij, CEO Kiviks.

The Hero/Kiviks joint venture will be run by the existing Kiviks management and the integration of the company in the Hero Group is expected to lead to significant synergies, the partners added.

Photo caption (l to r): Cristiano de Moraes (Chief Sales Officer, Hero/Kiviks JV ), Gerto de Rooij (CEO, Hero/Kiviks JV ), Rob Versloot (CEO Hero Group), Alfredo Eduardo de Moraes (shareholder Hero/Kiviks JV), and Miguel Ramon (Director, Corporate Finance, Hero Group)

About Hero Group
The Hero Group is an international food company focused on branded nutritional food products. The company was founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland, where its headquarters are still located today. Hero's main core product categories of Baby and Toddler Food and Milks, Jams, and Healthy Snacks are complemented by its activities in the Decoration and Gluten-free product segments. The Group, which lives by its mission to Delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature, boasts a global footprint and its portfolio consists of many well-known international and local brands. In 2014, the Group generated revenues of more than CHF 1.3 billion.

About Kiviks Marknad
Kiviks Marknad was founded in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1986 and has established a leading position in the Brazilian jam market with its Queensberry brand. Next to jams, the company offers other premium fruit-based products in its portfolio. The company’s state of the art production facilities, located in Itatiba, São Paulo State, were inaugurated in 2012. Kiviks employs 130 associates and was recently recognize as one of the top Brazilian companies in the area of sustainability.

Media contacts
Hero Group
Stephen Chetcuti
+41 (0)79 616 1467
stephen.chetcuti@hero.ch

Kiviks Marknad
Deni Bloch
+55 11 3088 0800
db@denibloch.com.br