In 2021, "Protéines France," a consortium of companies supporting development in this sector, launched the project ProteiNEW. As an active member of the consortium, Tereos is involved with this initiative, aiming to strengthen France's independence when it comes to protein. Anne Wagner, the Group's R&D Director and the first President of "Protéines France," explains the challenges of the project.
When we talk about plant proteins, we often hear the term "new resources." What does that mean? 

Anne Wagner: First of all, there are new plant resources, in particular protein crops, which can be consumed as they are or after refining and concentrating the proteins. But that's not all: new and very promising technologies are emerging thanks to insects, microalgae, yeast, fungi, and from bacteria from the fermentation of sugars. And we're not talking science fiction! These new resources are extremely compelling from a nutritional point of view. 
Thus, these sectors are on the up, and that's why we founded "Protéines France" in 2017 and launched ProteiNEW this year: to accelerate the development of these new sectors, which ensure that this agricultural resource is both protected and exploited to its full potential on a regional scale. 
 
What does this project involve? 

Anne Wagner: The ProteiNEW project is structured around four key pillars: identifying regional resources and benchmarks, supporting French start-ups, removing regulatory barriers and, last but not least, circulating findings more globally. The aim of ProteiNEW is to help develop a strong, integrated sector, putting France at the helm when it comes to proteins and new resources. Tereos is a co-leader of the second pillar with the start-up Algama, and our teams of course contribute and get involved in the other pillars. 
 
Outside of France, is the use of protein in food a global trend?  
Anne Wagner: This is a global trend that is addressing issues around food availability for a growing global population. However, in Western Europe in particular, there is no problem with the availability or quality of proteins, but consumers want to vary their protein sources for societal and environmental reasons. In France, we are lagging behind other countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, where plant proteins are already an important part of their diets. This new protein sector is thus a way to accelerate our entry into a diversified, globally sustainable food model and help our agriculture and technological innovations reach their full potential. 
 

Through a strategic supply agreement for Stevia extracts, Tereos offers comprehensive solutions that live up to consumer expectations.
Ever-changing consumer expectations 
For several years, the "good for me, good for the planet" trend has had a significant impact on purchasing decisions. While public health policies encourage the consumption of products with improved nutrition, consumers are noticeably more wary of the amount of sugar they consume.

 
With that in mind, stevia is the ideal ingredient! Proof of this is the fact that the number of product launches containing stevia extracts has increased by more than 16% per year between 2016 and 2020 (source: Innova Market Insights). As a sweetener, it meets expectations in terms of nutrition by allowing the sugar and calorie content of finished products to be reduced, and this trend is reflected in labeling systems such as the "Nutri-Score." This rating scale translate the nutritional value of a product, going from A (very healthy) to E (rather unhealthy). 
 


A healthy reformulation solution for our customers 
As a leading company in sweeteners, Tereos has offered its customers stevia extracts for over 10 years. In July 2021, the Group consolidated this ingredient's position in its product range by announcing the signing of a strategic supply agreement with the Swiss firm Firmenich, the world leader in the fragrance and flavor business.
The combination of Tereos solutions and Firmenich's range of stevia extracts will lead to innovative and appealing recipes for our customers. And with improved nutritional profiles, these products will take advantage of market opportunities in line with consumer expectations.

Tereos Sugar France has redesigned its industrial tools to better align with market and customer demands. We are talking about "flexibility" in the business. One of its core element is the production of syrup. It is made during harvest periods, stored and then processed into a variety of products as needed.  
An Elite Syrup! 
What we mean here is a high-purity syrup (HPS). HPS is produced in sugar beet harvest season—from October to January—and this is an essential step in the beet sugar extraction process. During this time, plants are working non-stop so they are ready to receive sugar beets on time. The plants are aiming to process the sugar beets before they spoil or are exposed to frost, at the risk of losing their sugar content. However, plants do face a barrie: despite their large intake capacity, plants cannot crystallize everything they receive. The solution? Store some of the High-Purity Syrup: 

One Syrup, Four Uses 
Some of the HPS obtained is then stored in tanks so it can be processed between harvests, from February through September.  It can then meet four major needs; it can be: 

The syrup is also used in the pre-harvest season in September to kick-start our plants before they receive the sugar beets. A bit like a warm-up!  
Syrup as an Essential Ingredient in a Volatile Market 
HPS production is therefore part of an arbitration logic to which Tereos France must lend itself, and which is fully in line with the flexibility of our industrial tool.  
Even before the harvests take place, Tereos France is under contract for an annual tonnage of sugar with its customers. This year, for example, the harvest was affected by yellow beet virus and climate hazards: the need to produce crystallized sugar is strategic and helps to meet these contracts. To do this, the HPS is reintroduced as a priority into the crystallization process and only a small amount is redirected to the distilleries to become alcohol.  
This ability to adapt has required adjustments and investment. Firstly, in three plants, additional equipment was installed in order to reduce the sugar content of the final syrup until molasses are obtained. At the same time, the Group invested in new storage space for HPS at three plants. 

Tereos and COVID-19 - #CommittedtoEssentials
Situation update, April 26th, 2020 -

OUR COOPERATIVE GROUP OPERATES ON STRATEGIC MARKETS
Tereos, world leader in the production of sugars, alcohols, plant proteins and products derived from starch has seen its productions recognized as "of strategic interest" by the authorities in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis as they are essential for sectors such as agri-food, infant nutrition, the pharmaceutical industry and sanitizing.
Aware of its responsibility and the essential role of its activity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group has implemented a globally coordinated Business Continuity Plan (BCP). This plan meets a double ambition: to ensure the safety of its employees and partners, while maintaining its quality of service.
TO DATE, AND UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS, TEREOS DOES NOT ANTICIPATE DISRUPTION IN PRODUCTION AND IS MANAGING ITS LOGISTICS OPERATIONS UNDER NORMAL SUPPLY CONDITIONS
• The Group is not currently facing significant disruptions in its logistics and transport operations. Our sales, Customer Support and Supply-Chain teams constantly assess the situation and support the customers concerned as closely as possible to their needs and situations to ensure the best quality of service in this context.
• As always, Tereos applies a high level of food safety to all its product lines. To date and as indicated by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) food has not been identified as a probable route of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The Group is now able to meet global demand and provide its customers with the products essential to their business. This is the result of the collective effort of its 22,300 employees combined with the rigorous management of the PCA implemented.
More specifically, as a major player in pharmaceutical alcohol, Tereos remains mobilized to ensure a sustained supply of disinfectant products. Tereos would like to thank its social partners and employees for their strong involvement, ensuring both a high level of activity on production lines and a continuous charity support to communities around us – learn more.
  ***
Please reach out to your Tereos contacts for any questions or clarifications.

Our B2C range is expanding to include organic sugars and sugars with High Environmental Value

In April, two new ranges of Béghin Say sugar will be hitting the shelves of supermarkets and hypermarkets, providing access to a healthy and sustainable diet to the greatest number of people.
All of our products are part of an ambitious program focused on environmental issues, the future of the French agricultural sector and consumer expectations. With this in mind, our Béghin Say brand is expanding its range with French organic sugar and sugar from sugar beets grown in France, on farms with HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale — High Environmental Value) certification.    
Organic Sugars: The Culmination of a Collaborative Ambition
Back in 2019, the Group delved into the Organic world, backing partnerships with organic growers in the cultivation of organic sugar beet and supporting planters in the process of converting, in accordance with organic farming regulations. Rather than being just a transitional first step, it was part of a cross-cutting approach, driven by the desire to meet the challenge of an increasingly healthy and sustainable food model for the future.
This commitment is now taking shape among consumers with the launch of the Béghin Say French Organic Sugar range in supermarkets that is:

Sold in brand new, sleek and appealing, green packaging, which is 100% recyclable.

New Products with HVE Certification
Béghin Say is the first beet sugar brand to offer French sugar from HVE-certified farms. Produced at the Tereos sugar factory in Artenay (Loiret), the Béghin Say range committed to HVE farming is available as cubes and caster sugar. It will also be sold in 100% recyclable cardboard packaging.

Focus on the Indonesian Starch and Sweeteners business: it is doubling its capacity thanks to a new corn syrup production line.

The Asia/Middle East zone accounts for nearly 11% of Tereos' revenues. In this region, the Group operates at its Cilegon plant in Indonesia, in a joint venture with the FKS company. This location offers Tereos new outlets and the opportunity to expand its product range. Focus on a growing business.

 
In anticipation of these new uses, Tereos FKS Indonesia has added a product to its catalog: corn syrup 55 (a high-fructose syrup).



Meeting the region's buoyant demand for food

In a predominantly import market, Tereos now boasts a local product. Having doubled its production capacity, the Cilegon plant is now ready to meet this growing demand and ensure that customer orders are met.
Finally, to supplement its offering, the plant is offering customers the chance to work hand-in-hand with our R&D lab in Singapore. Objective: develop tailored solutions to obtain the highest quality end product at an attractive price.

Watch this video to find out more:

Following the Group's recent donations of sugar, it is boosting its support for food banks by providing an essential new product
The Group was extremely active in providing support during the first phase of the health crisis by donating hydroalcoholic solution, and it is continuing its commitment to organizations working on behalf of those who are most disadvantaged.  As part of a partnership spanning a number of years, Tereos donated 30 pallets—24,000 liters—of hydroalcoholic gel last January to the FFBA (Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires — French Federation of Food Banks). This product will be distributed across the FFBA's six branches to supply food banks on the ground. 
The gel has of course become a basic need for this organization and its beneficiaries, in the same way as the sugar already distributed in the form of donations by Tereos in France. These came in the form of individual donations made by employees of the Group and an annual institutional donation of 25,000 tons.  

A gift made possible with the development of a new product  
This hydroalcoholic gel is the result of research and development work that began at Tereos Sugar France after an initial emergency phase favoring hydroalcoholic solution that was quicker to introduce at the plant. Like the hydroalcoholic solution, Tereos' new hydroalcoholic gel is made using alcohol from French agriculture and marketed by Tereos Sugar France as a leading player in this field for the pharmaceutical market. It produces a natural, odorless, antibacterial and antiviral gel.  
Once the development pilots were complete, teams at Tereos Sugar France selected one of the formulations tested, creating an opportunity to donate the batches that were not kept but that still met the optimum quality requirements.  
Helping those who help: In 2020, over a million more people in food insecurity 
An obvious solution to the very important needs raised by the FFBA. "This past year has put a lot of charities under strain. The idea of reaching out to those who serve the most vulnerable came about quite naturally and we are proud to help our long-standing partner, the FFBA. Thanks to the organization's nationwide network, this product can benefit the greatest number of people and this initiative provides us with a sense of purpose toward a common cause," says Laurent Perrette, Public Affairs Manager at Tereos.  
For several months, the organization has been faced with two challenges: protecting its volunteers who have been very active on the ground since the start of the pandemic, but also the vulnerable people who come to the premises — whose numbers have increased in 2020 (+20% vs 2019). Indeed, more than a million people fell into poverty in France, according to figures published by the organization at the end of the year. 

Become an expert on our pet, fish farming and livestock product ranges.

Milestone in 2020! Tereos has finalized the assessment of its cereals.
Our goals: to bring value to our raw materials and support our customers in achieving their ambitions of sustainability
Committed to being a more sustainable agro-industrial player? In 2016, Tereos was already a pioneer in sugar production, by rolling out the SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative) Platform assessment for sugar beets to its 12,000 cooperators. SAI Platform is an independent organization that regularly assesses the sustainability of our agricultural raw materials along three lines: environmental protection and economic and social management. At the end of 2020, Tereos completed its process: after one year of audit, its wheat and corn producers have their raw materials certified.
Sustainable cereals: a unique offering
While sustainability has been a well-established concept in sugar production for several years, the cereal market is gradually structuring itself around sustainability. By becoming one of the first agri-food players to have its wheat and corn audited, Tereos is taking the initiative to expand its offer, and to offer solutions to its customers seeking more responsible products that are more respectful of the planet. It also enables to bring added value to agricultural raw materials in connection with new outlets for these certified products.

Philippe de Raynal, Chairman of the Tereos Management Board, and Gérard Clay, Chairman of the Tereos Supervisory Board, wish you a happy new year 2021, and send you their best wishes.

Watch the video replay of the 2020/2021 1st Half-year (April-September) Financial Results Press Conference presented by Alexis Duval, CEO of Tereos.
Tereos announces strong growth for the first half of the year
(APRIL - SEPTEMBER 2020)
Check out some of the main highlights:

Half-year EBITDA up 114% to €237 million;
Net debt decrease of €253 million vs September 2019;
Resilient revenues, at €2,050 million (+1% at constant exchange rates);
EBITDA gains generated by the Ambitions 2022 performance plan: €25 million over the half-year, reaching €100 million since the beginning of the plan.

This performance demonstrates the flexibility of Tereos and its ability to adapt to the significant disruptions caused by the sanitary crisis.
The very positive momentum of Tereos results since 2019 in a European environment which is now deregulated and marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, is the fruit of the success of its anticipation strategy.
The results published demonstrate the quality of the work accomplished by its teams to transform Tereos in depth into an agile and more resilient Group.
WATCH ALEXIS DUVAL'S PRESENTATION (PRESS CONFERENCE)
 

For you to read: a series of articles to better understand what we eat
Epi&Co is launching its blog! As well as featuring 100% plant-based recipes, the Tereos brand provides readers concerned about their diet and health with information about new trends in food.

First up on the menu in our opening post: What is sustainable food? The Epi&Co teams explain the challenges that can be addressed by sustainable food, along with the benefits it offers for people and the planet. Happy reading!

Epi&Co also offers

Recipes on the Epi&Co website  
All the latest news about the brand on social media

Find out more about our European and South American consumer brands
Inspired by our international baking competition, we wanted to know more about B2C sugar brands that will help you make delicious cakes. Where does their name come from? What is their flagship product? You'll learn all about this everyday ingredient, with its sometimes surprising history.
Names with a nod to their origins
 

Our brand names often echo the region from which they originate. Or even the place where they were created. In Brazil, the name Guarani is a reference to the farm where the sugar business began and which gave rise to the Group's infrastructure.

Another part of the world and another tribute to the past. Dina Morgabin, île Bonaparte, Bourbon — Réunion Island has had countless names. And it is under this emblematic name of Sucreries de Bourbon that our Group markets its sugars in Réunion Island.


In the Czech Republic, TTD refers, for once, not only to a place, but also to a person.
 
 
 

In France, it was the creator's identity that prevailed, when, at the start of the 19th century, the Béghin family created one of the first sugar factories in France in Thumeries, where the Group is still firmly established. It was not until 1973 that the Béghin and Say families joined forces to launch the brand that we still sell today.
 
The same is true over in England, where Whitworths is the surname of the brand's three founding brothers: John, Herbert and Newton. Together, at the end of the 19th century, they created Whitworths Bros., now known as  Whitworths Sugar. They initially traded sugar, as well as dried fruit and flour. It was not until a century later, during the 1980s, that the first packet of sugar bearing the Whitworths name was released. Yet, a few years prior to that the Whitworths Bros were awarded the Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for supplying goods to the Households of HM The Queen.
Recognition and awards
In the Czech Republic, sugar cubes have had the greatest success. And for good reason! "Sugar cubes were born in Czech Republic in the middle of the 19th century," Jakub reveals. "In 2009, during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, sugar cubes symbolized the term and TTD was its official partner; our products were used at all meetings." A few decades ago our flagship products were the "kubesy." "The 'kubesy'—stark white lumps of sugar—were first created in the early 20th century and were used to decorate the tables of royals, for example King George V of the UK and his wife Mary of Teck." 

At Tereos, each of our business lines plays a part in providing a more sustainable food supply. Our employees are committed to improving ways of achieving this goal every day.  
The food of tomorrow is an unavoidable challenge for Tereos as a major player in the agrifood industry.  We are creating plant-based solutions for a changing world. Our ambition is to meet everyone's nutritional needs with a healthy and sustainable diet.  
For World Food Day, our employees are sharing the actions they are implementing every day to adapt what we offer in order to anticipate consumer expectations and focus on health and nutrition, sustainability and new resources.

 
To explore this further, check out the infographic that tells you about the trends in terms of the food of tomorrow.  

​