Haas Group is acquired by the Bühler Group

To mark the introduction of the new year, the Bühler Group acquired the Haas Group in the first week of 2018, and both companies are set to benefit from this agreement.

Bühler is a market leader in food production systems along the entire value chain — such as from wheat grains to dough and up to finished wafers or cookies — but the company has so far not been involved in the promising wafer and cookie production market. The acquisition of Haas will enable Bühler to further develop its Consumer Foods business.

“This means we are opening a new chapter in the consumer food market, and we feel confirmed by the broad approval that we have received from many customers and employees,” said Bühler CEO Stefan Scheiber.

“Though we also offer food processing technologies and often have the same customers, our products and services do not overlap in any way — this means, we complement each other ideally,” he continued.

Scheiber suggested that both companies are family owned and are based on trust and committed to sustainability. This means the agreement should mutually strengthen one another.

“Fully in line with the philosophy of both Bühler and Haas, we plan to take an approach that will be systematic and consistent, but at the same time also considerate, responsible and with sustainability in mind,” said Germar Wacker, who is now in charge of the Haas business within the Bühler Group.

Austrian manufacturer Haas has developed from a small family-owned business into a market leader in the field of production systems for making wafers, hard and soft cookies, ice cones, cakes and bakery products. Operating in six countries, its current global workforce consists of 1750 employees who help generate annual sales of about €300 million.

As part of the Bühler Group, Haas customers will have access to its global network of about 100 service stations, and it will become part of the Bühler innovation management organisation and network.

Wacker explained the benefits of the company’s connections: “The powerful presence of Bühler in Asia is another factor that enables the two combined companies to seize new opportunities in this major growth market for wafer and cookie products.”

The integration of Haas in the Bühler Group has already begun, and going forward the focus will be on customer value and the strengthening of the companies’ positions in their various markets.

Image credit: Bühler