PROTEIN PRODUCER GIVES AN EXTRA MONTH’S SALARY

The Danish protein producer, European Protein, increased EBIDTA from 2019 to 2020. The positive result triggers an extra month’s salary for all employees.

SUCCESS IS A TEAM EFFORT IN EUROPEAN PROTEIN

When the employees check their bank accounts, they have received a little more than usual. The reason being that European Protein has given an extra month’s salary to all employees because the sales of functional protein for 2020 went very well.

” We have been busy despite Corona, and the employees have had a lot on their plates to meet the increasing demand for health-boosting proteins. At EUROPEAN PROTEIN, we acknowledge the fact that success is a team effort. So it’s only fair that we share the success with the employees, who made it possible, says CEO Jens Legarth.

Profit-sharing is a standard part of the contract when starting a job at European Protein. Profit-sharing goes for all employees and is a part of the benefits package to ensure job satisfaction.

“We are a very lean organization, and we rely on few very competent employees. Therefore, it is important to us that they are dedicated and in return feel that their work is appreciated.”, says Jens Legarth.

INCREASE IN THE SALES OF FUNCTIONAL PROTEIN FOR ANIMALS

European Protein increased its’ earnings in 2020, and EBIDTA for the Danish company rose from 4 MIO DKK to 7.5 MIO DKK.

An increase in price for soy and an intensified interest from the pig producers for sow and piglet health, increased demand for alternative and functional protein:

“We experience a significant rise in interest for our feeding concepts, especially the solutions with rapeseed and seaweed in the sow feed and rapeseed in the weaning feed for piglets.”

According to the director, the demand is increasing because more European pig producers search for medicinal zinc (ZnO) and soy alternatives. At the same time, they are looking for economically attractive and sustainable proteins to promote the natural health of the sows and piglets.

DOCUMENTING HEALTH EFFECTS ON FARM LEVEL

Another factor is a new GUT HEALTH database, started in 2020 together with Copenhagen University. The database stores analysis of DNA and blood samples from pigs. Samples are collected before and after the pigs are fed European proteins functional proteins to document the development in gut health.

“We can document an improvement of gut health – on farm level. This novel approach has put us on the map because we are the first protein producer to scientifically prove gut health improvements on commercial farms. Still, we have much more to learn, so the work in building the database continues”, says the CEO.

The company will be hosting a seminar covering the gut health results of 50 sow farms at the end of the year.

Watch Copenhagen Universities professor Dennis Sandris speak about gut health in pig production.

AN EXCITING YEAR FOR ANIMALS AND PEOPLE

Jens Legarth has great expectations for the company in 2021 and in the years to come.

The company participates in two accelerator programs, Plug and Play and Mass Challenge, reserved for the most innovative feed and food companies. The programs let companies like European Protein pitch their innovations to the largest feed-and food companies in the world:

“Out of 1.000 pre-screened start-ups, we were selected as one of 15 companies to join the Plug and Play program. We are proud that our research, products and fermentation technology resonates internationally. The programs let us collaborate with the very best to push the development of fermented ingredients to animals and even people”, says Jens and elaborates:

The sister company, FermBiotics, developing ingredients and supplements for people and pets, is establishing a network of distributors to handle sales and marketing of future ingredients and supplements.