«We have a firm commitment to sustainability»
SBFS, European subsidiary of the Japanese group Suntory, manufactures, markets and distributes leading brands in our country such as: Schweppes®, La Casera®, TriNa® and Sunny Delight®
What positioning does SBFS have in the global consumer goods sector? And in Spain?
Suntory Beverage & Food Spain belongs to the Suntory business group, which has 285 companies and more than 40.000 employees worldwide operating in more than 120 countries. The Group's activities include the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, restaurants, food and culture, among others.
The soft drinks division corresponds to Suntory Beverage & Food, which has more than 20 brands and carries out its activity in Europe through Suntory Beverage & Food Europe (SBFE). Its regional markets or business units, Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland, Suntory Beverage & Food France, Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, Export & Commercial Markets (Benelux, Poland, Africa, East Middle and Caribbean), and Suntory Beverage & Food Iberia (Spain and Portugal), make SBFE today one of the leading soft drink companies in Europe.
Suntory Beverage & Food Spain (SBFS) is the company incorporated in Spain, whose activity specifically consists of the manufacture and distribution of soft drinks and juices, its most representative brands being: Schweppes®, La Casera®, Sunny Delight® and Trina®.
Which Suntory brands are leaders in Europe? And in our country?
In Spain we market the brands Schweppes®, Trina®, La Casera® and Sunny Delight®. In Europe we also stand out for distributing other brands such as Pulco®, Orangina®, MayTea®, Oasis®, Ribena® and Lucozade®.
What objectives have been set for the Spanish market?
At Suntory Beverage & Food Spain we have a firm commitment to sustainability. From mid-2022, all Schweppes® bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) and recyclable, which contributes to our goal of reducing emissions by 2030% (scope 50&1) and emissions by 2% (scope 30) with respect to 3. Those of La Casera® will also be the same at the end of 2019. All our primary packaging is currently 2023% recyclable.
Furthermore, in 2022 we launched our first Natural Water Sanctuary in Spain, Guardianes del Tajo (located in Toledo), a project that arose with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of water, as well as biodiversity in the area of the Reservoir. of Guajaraz, one of the three reservoirs that provide water to our Toledo factory. Currently, we have completed the first research phase of the project and are initiating the first environmental actions in the reservoir. Within the indirect activities of the project we also developed Mizuiku: an educational program for children that the Suntory group promotes mainly near its Natural Water Sanctuaries around the world. The main objective of this program is to teach the little ones the phases of the water cycle, the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and tips to take care of this very limited resource.
We ensure that our production processes are increasingly more efficient and require less water consumption. We are committed to reducing water consumption by 20% (vs 2015) in all our factories in Europe by 2030.
And we make great efforts to reduce sugar in our products and offer healthier options to consumers: 98% of our soft drink portfolio is low in calories (below 4,5 gr/100ml) or zero.
What are the Group's differential values?
Inspired by our Japanese heritage, we are guided by three values that we adopt to achieve our company purpose:
• Growing for Good: the more we grow, the greater positive impact we can generate in society and the environment.
• Yatte Minahare: go for it! in Japanese, our relentless quest to go beyond the ordinary.
• Giving back to Society: we strive to give back to society and the environment everything we borrow to produce our brands.
Recently, they have invested 7 million euros in the Tordera Technology Center (Barcelona). What does this Center represent for Suntory? What lines are they investigating?
The Tordera center is the largest research center of the Suntory group in Europe. It began its activity in 1970 and is the only innovation center of the European group that supplies Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
It is an icon in innovation since iconic products and brands such as Schweppes®, Orangina®, Oasis®, Trina®, La Casera®, Sunny Delight® and Pulco® among others have been developed there.
This investment has been allocated to create new sensory and packaging analysis laboratories; a technical services area or a pilot plant for the production of concentrates or finished drinks intended for market studies, and a technological development department for unique ingredients derived from fruit has been consolidated. In addition, it has a professional external panel of tasters.
Do you have other centers in Europe?
Suntory Beverage & Food Europe has 8 own production centers, of which 3 are present in Spain: bottling factory in Toledo, a concentrate production center in Carcaixent (Valencia) and an R&D center in Tordera (Barcelona). ). The rest are in France and the United Kingdom.
They have just launched the new La Casera® Vermouth and Cider Appetizers. Do you plan to continue promoting the low-grad segment?
The low alcohol sector is a bet that we make at SBFS under one of our brands, La Casera®, with which we enter this category with the launch of Tinto de Verano. In 2019, we reinvented the category with the launch of Distinto, a unique combination of white wine made from Verdejo grapes, La Casera® soda and natural lemon juice. In 2023, our commitment to innovation and the category is maintained with this latest launch (Vermouth Aperitif and Cider Aperitif), which positions the La Casera® low alcohol range as one of the most complete on the market.
Is it one of the trends that characterizes the consumer beverage sector?
Without a doubt. According to a study carried out by the GFK agency (GFK low-alcohol consumer study, June 2022), 31% of current low-alcohol consumers are looking for alternatives to their usual drink and 26% reject the most widespread options on the market.
Do you have other releases planned soon?
Innovation is a very important lever for our company since it is a way to get closer to the consumer and satisfy their needs, which is why we continue working to develop new products that satisfy consumer needs.
What measures are you implementing in favor of more sustainable production? How are they specified at the packaging level?
In accordance with our sustainability strategy, the reduction of plastic and the promotion of the circular economy throughout the production, distribution and marketing cycle is one of the objectives that we are working on at Suntory Beverage & Food Spain to achieve a balance with the planet.
As the company, we have made various advances in plastic reduction, materialized through our brands, such as:
• The elimination of plastic rings from all our cans and their replacement with cardboard groupers.
• From 2022, all Schweppes® plastic is 100% recycled and recyclable, and so will La Casera® plastic at the end of this year, with the aim of extending it to Trina® and Sunny Delight® in the coming years. By 2030, the packaging of our entire portfolio will be 100% sustainable, since it will be made from recycled PET.
• Since last year, 100% of the plastic used in primary packaging is recyclable and so is 50% of secondary packaging. And the shrink film that covers the packs will incorporate 2024% post-consumer material (recycled plastic) in its composition by 70.
• In addition to the transition from virgin to recycled plastic, we have reduced the average weight of PET plastic of all our brands by 7% since 2012.
• Our goal is that by April 2024 all our plastic bottles will have the cap tied to the bottle to facilitate subsequent collection and recycling.
