VAN HEES GmbH

VAN HEES is colorful!   Hundreds of thousands of people have been out and about at demonstrations in recent weeks and months, setting an example for freedom and diversity. We at VAN HEES also support and live these values every day. Because we are not only colourful when it comes to spices and marinades.   We employ people from almost 40 nations worldwide and are proud to be a good employer for everyone. Together we stand for a colourful world!

A successful workshop lies behind us! Many thanks to Sabine Merdes.

Summer, sun, ice ! 🍦🌞 We recently had a special surprise for our employees. Instead of the bakery trolley, there was suddenly an ice cream van on our company site and all employees were invited to enjoy a delicious #ice cream! 🎉 This offer was of course very much appreciated. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a working day special. What makes your working day great?

Successfully completed 4 days Workshop @ VAN HEES GmbH 🤝 This workshop has been an incredible journey, providing us with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience. The skills and insights gained have significantly enhanced our professional growth, and I am eager to apply them in our future endeavors. A heartfelt thank you to Vanhees team, especially Benjamin Back for his valuable support and guidance throughout this transformative experience. #foodspecialitieslimied #VanHees #workshop

Model experiment to evaluate #nitrite reduction in meat products   Due to the important role of nitrite curing salt in the production of meat products, we conducted a model experiment together with the Deutschen Fleischer-Verband (DFV) in order to better assess the effects of nitrite reduction.   For our experiment, we tested different nitrite concentrations for each type of sausage, including the old limit values (100mg/kg nitrite ions) vs. the new limit values (80mg/kg nitrite ions). You can find our results in the slider.   The topic and our collaboration were also highlighted in the #fleischerwirtschaft magazine: https://lnkd.in/gAXPkhdy (membership required).   What experiences have you already had with the new limits?

After numerous discussions and proposals to reduce #nitrite in meat products, the European Commission adopted new maximum levels for the use of nitrite some months ago. As this remains an relevant topic, we have answered the most important questions once again. 👉 Why is nitrite used in sausage and meat products? Nitrite has several functions in sausage and meat products. It combines with myoglobin and forms the red curing colour nitrosomyoglobin. It also gives meat products their typical cured flavour and, as a preservative, inhibits the growth of microorganisms, especially Clostridium botulinum. 👉 What are the defined maximum nitrite levels? The maximum amount of sodium nitrite added to meat products has been reduced from 150 mg/kg to 120 mg/kg. Please note: The new limits refer to nitrite ions, whereby 120 mg/kg sodium nitrite corresponds to a nitrite ion level of 80 mg/kg (conversion factor 0.67). 👉 When do the limits become legally binding? The new maximum levels have been in force since 9 October 2023, with a transitional period of two years. Producers have time until 9 October 2025 to adapt their recipes. 👉 Do recipes need to be rewritten? When using nitrite curing salt with 0.5% sodium nitrite and standard market dosage, most recipes do not need to be adapted. Do you have any questions about nitrite reduction? Then please get in touch with us: [email protected]. 👍 PS: Together with Deutschen Fleischer-Verband (DFV) we have realised a model experiment. More on this in the next few days.

For years now, we have been relying on our buddy programme as part of the #onboarding process! We have a total of 30 dedicated buddies. Every new employee is assigned a #buddy - whether in production, administration, processing or management. The buddies meet regularly with new colleagues and share their knowledge about VAN HEES. They provide support during the familiarisation process and help with socialising. This also includes information about the corporate culture or one or two unwritten rules of behaviour. We take particular care to ensure that the buddy and the new colleague do not come from the same department to strengthen interdepartmental team spirit. A big thank you to all our buddies for their commitment and support! Our newest colleagues are accompanied by the two buddies Julia and Mauricio. Do you have a buddy programme? How does it work?

Public viewing in a warehouse? Yes, for sure. After a construction period of just 10 months, we celebrated the start-up of our new #warehouse in Idstein. Accompanied by the #euro2024 match between Germany and Hungary, we enjoyed cool drinks and bratwurst. The new warehouse comprises 10,500 m² total area with 11 loading ramps and 14,600 pallet spaces. The raw materials warehouse in hall 1 has 8,000 storage bays. The second hall, with 6,000 storage bays, houses the end products. Many thanks to all our colleagues and our long-standing partner ERNST SCHMITZ Logistics as well as MB Park Deutschland GmbH and Jungheinrich PROFISHOP AG & Co. KG.

At VAN HEES we are working intensively on the topic of #sustainability. To push this important topic throughout the company, we have formed several dedicated project teams of colleagues from all departments and hierarchical levels. These teams are coordinated by our Sustainability Manager Linda von Knobloch.   Our aim is to introduce a comprehensive sustainability management system at VAN HEES. We are following the guidelines of the #ZNU standard and are aiming for certification in accordance with this standard. To achieve this, we are receiving support from the experienced management consultancy fjol GmbH.   The legally required measures, which are mandatory as part of the CSRD, are obligatory for us. However, the first meetings already proved that employees, managers, management and shareholders are highly motivated to drive forward the relevant topics and thus contribute to securing our common future.   The first workshops on the materiality analysis are currently in full progress and we are looking forward to making further progress and developing sustainable solutions for the future. 🌍💚   What do your sustainability teams look like?

Celebrating #WorldFoodSafetyDay 🍽️🌍 Today, we join the global community in raising awareness about the importance of #foodsafety. Ensuring that the food we eat is safe and #healthy is essential for our well-being and the well-being of everyone. But what does Food Safety mean? And what can we do to ensure Food Safety? We asked our experts from Food.PreTECT. 👇