Europe & AMEAP
A message from our President
“I am proud to present our second annual report on Corporate Social Responsibility. As we reflect on the past year, the report is a testament to all the efforts, big and small, we put into a positive change for a better tomorrow. The foundation of our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility was laid in 2021 and centers around our Circle of Excellence. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we strive to create positive impact across all dimensions of our business: people, products and customers.”
” Progress is a journey, and every small step we take contributes to our larger mission. We recognize that collaboration with our customers and industry partners is essential. Together, we can drive positive change and create a more sustainable future.”
Investing in our people
Our achievements in the past year speak volumes about our commitment to Team Member growth and development. We invested significantly in training and skill-building, empowering our team to thrive in a changing landscape. The introduction of a volunteering program further strengthened our sense of purpose and community and the second cohort of our Women’s Leadership Development Program (WLDP) graduated.
Transforming our product portfolio
Our product offering in the better-for-you space is growing successfully.
“Vegan, vegan, vegan” has become our mantra, reflecting the growing demand for plant-based alternatives. Our Balance portfolio continues to expand, catering to diverse consumer preferences. In operations, we take meaningful steps—installing solar panels, optimizing supply chains, and collecting data to drive informed decisions.
Partnering with our customers and suppliers
In the aftermath of the 2022 geopolitical conflicts that disrupted raw material availability and supply chains, in 2023, we refocused our sourcing efforts and make meaningful progress towards our ambitions. With fewer short-term crises demanding our attention, we shifted our palm oil and palm oil derivates to more segregated certified palm. The sale of our frozen business impacted our achievement in certified chocolate volumes, but we are making steps to achieve our set 2025 ambition to source 75% of our volume certified.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, we are gearing up for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). A Dual Materiality Analysis will be done in 2024 to inform our next roadmap, ensuring alignment with both financial and sustainability goals. We will also reflect on the acquisition of Royal Steensma and how it enhances our capabilities and broadens our impact.
Progress is a journey, and every small step we take contributes to our larger mission. We recognize that collaboration with our customers and industry partners is essential. Together, we can drive positive change and create a more sustainable future.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Together, we will continue towards a better tomorrow.
STEVEN
VERWEIJ,
President, Europe & AMEAP
About us
Dawn Foods started in 1920 with a vision to provide bakers with high-quality, great-tasting ingredients. Today, we live up to that vision by inspiring bakery success every day. As a family owned, global bakery leader, we continue to transform the industry and inspire our customers’ success by having the best people in the business, industry-leading products, and meaningful partnerships with our customers - better known as our Circle of Excellence. We have grown a lot over the years but have stayed true to our values and our culture. It is our commitment to Dawn, the baking industry, and to each other that makes all the difference — The Dawn Difference.
Our vision and mission
Our vision: To Inspire Bakery Success Every Day.
Our mission: To delight our customers around the world by delivering the insights, innovations, products, services and bakery expertise that empowers them to achieve their aspirations.
Our values
Our values serve as a guiding light that inspires the best in our people and shapes every aspect of our daily actions and the experiences we deliver worldwide. We take great pride in embodying these values as they form the cornerstone of our approach to serving others. By upholding these values, we aim to foster enduring relationships with our customers and communities, while also fostering a supportive and inclusive culture.
OPTIMISM
We believe in our people and in the power of POSITIVITY for a better tomorrow. In business, there will always be challenges, but if we choose to address each situation with grace and careful consideration, we are CONFIDENT that positive outcomes will be our result. At Dawn Foods, we have an innate desire to continue to better ourselves, to make the experience our partners have with us smarter, richer and more enjoyable. Our end goal is HAPPINESS – for us, our customers, and their consumers.
PASSION
We are ENERGIZED by the creativity, INSPIRATION and DEDICATION we witness in our customers and in each other. We strive to infuse that passion into ALL THAT WE DO, from working as teams to give our customers our best, to partnering with our customers to help them move their businesses forward. It’s the spark that sets us apart.
RELATONSHIPS
Our success comes from nurturing LONG LASTING PARTNERSHIPS. We are committed to COLLABORATION and working with each other and our customers so that we all grow and improve. We listen, learn and approach each encounter as an opportunity to work together. Our partners feel VALUED AND HEARD
PROGRESS
We are proud of OUR ROOTS and will always remember our start as a small bakery business. It’s that humble beginning that helps the Dawn family connect to our customers and understand their goals, struggles and ambitions. And while we will always strive to INNOVATE AND GROW, we remember that our family roots drive our PROGRESS TOWARD A BRIGHT FUTURE. We started humbly; as bakers at sunrise.
INTEGRITY
Our word is OUR PROMISE and it’s been that way for more than 100 years. No matter how large we become, we are COMMITTED to being an organization of INTEGRITY and ACCOUNTABILITY for all we say and do. We know that lasting TRUST comes from being true to our words and our choices, and we are accountable to everyone we work with. Building trust with every opportunity; as bakers at sunrise.
Our 2023 footprint in
Europe & AMEAP
We operate through a broad network of production facilities, R&D locations, distribution centers and sales offices, catering to a diverse range of customers from artisanal bakeries to large industrial manufacturers.
8 Productions Plants including Offices
Bartoszówka (Poland)
Bielsko-Biała (Poland)
Darmstadt (Germany)
Erquinghem-Lys (France)
Evesham (UK)
Groningen (The Netherlands)
Manage (Belgium)
Palmela (Portugal)
Regional Head Office Europe & AMEAP
Amstelveen (The Netherlands)
5 Distribution Centers
Długołęka (Poland)
Duchnice (Poland)
Gądki (Poland)
Palmela (Portugal)
Rumia (Poland)
8 R&D locations
Bielsko-Biała (Poland)
Darmstadt (Germany)
Erquinghem-Lys (France)
Evesham (UK)
Groningen (The Netherlands)
Manage (Belgium)
Palmela (Portugal)
Innovation Hub - Dinteloord (The Netherlands)
5 Sales and Marketing Offices Europe
Barcelona (Spain)
Budapest (Hungary)
Oosterhout (The Netherlands)
Paris (France)
Poznań (Poland)
Sales and Marketing Office
Africa & Middle East
Dubai, UAE
Our approach
At Dawn, we believe our actions matter and that we have a responsibility to make a positive impact in communities around the world. Our approach to social responsibility aligns to our commitments to our people, our products, and our customers – better known as the Circle of Excellence.
Across Dawn, our approach to social responsibility is centered on progress. As one of our Dawn values, we understand progress and change take time, but everyday changes and improvements help us get a little bit better, every day.
Our pillars
Globally, our initiatives focus on:
• Supporting people, communities, and the baking industry with equitable and inclusive programs that inspire.
• Responsibly creating and distributing our products to improve overall wellbeing and reduce our environmental impact.
• Working with our customers and partners to advance sustainable efforts and ethical practices that make an impact.
People Products Customers
Make a better planet for people and communities around the world.
As a global community, we are all connected as people. Dawn is committed to supporting the health, safety, wellbeing, and education of our Team Members, the baking industry, and the communities in which we operate. We put people at the top of everything we do and value diverse perspectives, equality, and inclusion for all.
Contributing
Operate responsibly with products that delight
From our comprehensive standards for product and packaging development, to our manufacturing and distribution practices, and commitment to high-quality ingredients, we focus on the wellbeing of our customers, their consumers, and the environment.
Develop positive partnerships that make an impact
We work to create a more sustainable and better shared future with partners committed to doing business the right way for our customers and the industry. Our partnerships are focused on responsible sourcing, sustainable efforts, regulatory principles, and stewardship of natural resources.
Make a better planet for people and communities around the world
Our 2025 ambitions for People
1
Enrich communities by actively supporting with funds & products and encouraging our Team Members to actively engage and volunteer in their communities.
Corporate Giving Program
Maximize our impact on communities by donating Dawn products and monetary funds in all countries where we have a sizeable presence.
Launch Volunteering Program and enable Team Members to volunteer in a community initiative 1 day a year
2
Supporting the future of bakers and the bakery profession with bakery trainings and collaborating with schools and academies
Intensify our Partnerships with bakery schools and academies
3
Supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our Team Members and offering continuous development opportunities for all.
Offer 1 new Training & Development Opportunity per Team Member/ per year
3 Employee Resource Groups (ERG’S) in place
Promote the Importance of Mental Health with 3 new initiatives
2023 highlights
an introduction
Our people continue to be our priority at Dawn and I am proud of the great initiatives we launched to support our teams in 2023. We are committed to supporting our local communities and our Team Members took advantage of our new Team Member Volunteer program which offers them an opportunity to dedicate a day supporting a community initiative they are passionate about. For example, the UK leadership team did a clean-up of the roads adjacent to the manufacturing plant in Evesham.
The health and wellbeing of our people continues to be a priority for us. In 2023, we provided several externally hosted webinars for our teams to learn more about how they can support their mental health and its importance to their overall health.
A particular highlight for me was hosting the global Dawn International Women’s Day events in the Netherlands. It was a proud moment to invite Olive Strachan MBE, an inspiring external speaker, to our offices to share her remarkable journey and lead an interactive Masterclass for the team.
Providing development opportunities for our Team Members supports their personal and professional growth. In 2023, our people eagerly took advantage of these opportunities, completing an impressive 2,708 courses on LinkedIn. Staying current with new learning and development trends is essential to keep learning engaging, which is why we introduced a new gamification training tool. Easily accessible via phone or laptop, this tool offered Team Members an immersive learning experience.
As we move forward, I am excited to build and develop our initiatives aimed at enhancing our Team Member experience. This involves not only expanding our existing offerings but also developing new ways to support and engage our people. By continuously investing in their development and wellbeing, we aim to create an environment where every Team Member feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. I look forward to the positive impact these initiatives will have on our organization.
On the following pages you will find more details on our progression in 2023 against our ambitions:
• Enrich communities
• Supporting the future of bakers
• Suporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our Team Members
GIJS HEIDSTRA, Vice president People
GIJS HEIDSTRA, Vice President People, Europe & AMEAP
40% 40%
Women Length of service
51%
755 Team Members of our Team Members are female of our Team Members have worked at Dawn for more than 5 years
to the world’s SDG’s: our contribution
With our product ambitions and programs in action, we contribute to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s):
1. Through initiatives such as our Corporate Giving Program, we focus on supporting underprivileged communities by providing monetary funding and product donations.
4. Our partnerships with bakery schools enable us to help sustain the bakery profession for the future. Through our internal programmes, we encourage our own teams to continue to learn and develop.
5. In a male-oriented industry, we are committed to promoting women and ensuring equal opportunities for all. Our Women’s Leadership Development Program is a great example of our efforts in this space.
10. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are in our DNA and we are dedicated to creating an inclusive working environment for all Team Members. Everyone is able to bring their true self to work every day.
Corporate Giving Program
Dawn is committed to serving and improving the communities in which our 755 Team Members work. Through our Corporate Giving Program, we support our Team Members’ efforts in giving back and focus our investments on hunger prevention and health, education, and community improvements.
SFK Darmstadt, Germany
Life should be sweet, that is why we are committed to creating sweet moments for everyone. Dawn donates products and provides grants to a variety of local events and fundraisers. Here are a few highlights of the initiatives we supported in 2023 across Europe and AMEAP.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, France
Thanks to the great support of our distribution partners, our team in France raised almost €22,000 for several associations (Audomarose and La Ligue contre le cancer). This is 45% more than 2022. With special Dawn Pink October bakery kits, French pâtissiers were able to make pink pastries and decorate their stores to show support and raise awareness for Pink October. +45% vs 2022
We expanded our funding efforts to Europe and AMEAP, making our first grant in the region to SFK Darmstadt, Germany, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free tutoring to underprivileged school children in Darmstadt. This collaboration is in line with Dawn’s funding priorities and underlines our commitment to supporting initiatives that uplift disadvantaged communities. As part of this partnership, we’ve granted €4,000 to further SFK Darmstadt’s impactful work.
Refood, Palmela, Portugal
Every year, our chefs in Palmela go above and beyond to sweeten our team’s Christmas time with delicious cakes to take home to their families. This year they have outdone themselves. Their efforts allowed us to make an extra special contribution to Refood, an incredible institution dedicated to helping homeless individuals by making daily food deliveries. Thank you for spreading joy both within our team and in the wider community.
Volunteering Program
In 2023 we built on our efforts of Corporate Giving and launched our Volunteering Program in Europe & AMEAP. As part of our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Corporate Social Responsibility, we are proud to provide an opportunity for every Team Member to spend a day volunteering.
A selection of great initiatives from our teams in 2023:
Beach clean up, Portugal
Andre Gomes, our Digital Manager, got his family involved in a beach clean-up in the Meco area, 35 minutes south of Lisbon. Unfortunately, the beaches are littered with rubbish, plastic and fishing nets, so they joined a group of volunteers to help clear the beaches of rubbish!
Litter picking, United Kingdom
Organised in conjunction with the local council, the UK Leadership Team supported the local community by spending an afternoon litter picking in the area adjacent to the plant.
Oosterhout, The Netherlands
Evesham, United Kingdom
Voedselbank, The Netherlands
In December our Dutch team came together to dip donuts at the Voedselbank! The “Voedselbank,”is an organization that provides food assistance to people in need in the Netherlands. In total, we distributed 350 donuts, spreading not just treats, but also a dose of joy throughout the community!
Fire Brigade Foundation, Germany
During the farmers’ market in Groß-Umstadt, the youth fire department of the town of Groß-Umstadt sold waffles. The proceeds were donated to the Wilfried Köbler Darmstadt-Dieburg Fire Brigade Foundation. We supported this project by donating the Dawn Waffle Mix to the youth fire department. Our team was also on site and helped to bake the waffles.
With the donation, we helped the young people of the fire department to continue their important work. Their work contributes to the safety and wellbeing of the population.
Darmstadt, Germany
Promoting volunteering in our Europe & AMEAP offices!
“The experience was certainly rewarding, and it was great to have a positive impact on the students. I’m looking forward to future opportunities to volunteer!”
Q1: Can you tell us a little about the day?
In June 2023 Claire Cunneen, Global People & Culture Manager, and I participated in a ‘Welcome to Work’ Day hosted by St. Benedict’s RC High School. The purpose of the day was to help develop workplace skills and prepare older students for interviews with future potential employers.
As one of the employers in the local community we held an interactive Problem Solving Workshop with around 30 students who had chosen the session. We focused on teamwork and building ‘real life’ problem solving skills in small teams. We ended our time with a fun marshmallow challenge activity where we challenged the students to build the tallest tower using only marshmallows and spaghetti. The challenge to the students was to think creatively as a team to solve problems logically and then apply then these skills in a fun and competitive way.
We also supported the students with an afternoon of mock interviews where we spent time with them individually to simulate situations they might encounter in a workplace interview.
A day volunteering with Chris Wells
Director International Key Accounts, Europe & AMEAP
Welcome to Work Day
St. Benedict’s RC High School, Alcester, Warks, United Kingdom
Q2: Why did you enjoy it?
As Dawn UK is one of the employers in the local community, it is good to be involved in events like this and give something back to the community as well as raising the profile of Dawn Foods as a local employer. It was nice to share my experience and knowledge with young people and develop a relevant and accessible session for them. We heard from staff that, following a feedback survey, 82% of students felt more prepared for work which was a great result. The experience was certainly rewarding, and it was great to have a positive impact on the students. I am looking forward to future opportunities to volunteer!
3 Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s) in place
We will roll out the first Team Member Network in Europe & AMEAP in 2024: Women@Dawn.
The Team Member Network is an employee-led group where participants come together around a specific aspect of diversity, which fosters inclusivity and builds community. Our aim is to develop a supportive network that allows Team Members to build relationships and discuss experiences, raise common concerns and create awareness around shared interests.
We want our Team Members to bring their authentic selves to work and feel valued. Our network will promote an inclusive culture and offers learning and development opportunities.
Intensify our Partnerships with Bakery Schools and Academies
Our commitment to sustainability goes hand in hand with our mission to nurture the future of bakers, ensuring that the next generation can continue to enjoy the art of baking for years to come. On the following pages, you will find some of the great initiatives that took place in 2023, from our long-standing partnership with University College Birmingham (UCB) in the UK to new initiatives in Spain and Portugal.
1. Masterclasses in Portugal and Spain
Our Technical Application Chefs regularly partner with bakery schools in Spain and Portugal, for example in Porto, Barcelona and Valencia, to support the development of the next generation of bakers
2. City of Wolverhampton College, Evesham, United Kingdom
Bakery students from City of Wolverhampton College were given insights into bakery production at Dawn Foods in Evesham. Students studying for Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Professional Bakery, as well as several for the Foundation Degree in Bakery & Patisserie Technology spent the day at our Evesham site, taking a tour of the factory, attending a product overview presentation and taking part in a trends discussion.
The students also had a hands-on session with Dawn’s Technical Application Chef, Robin Loud. The day ended with a presentation from Tim Clarkson, Managing Director Commercial UK and Ireland. Tim talked about the different career paths open to bakery students, both in retail bakery and in a manufacturing bakery environment such as Dawn Foods.
3. Student Ambassador Program, UCB, UK
As part of our commitment to nurturing a new generation of young bakers, we continued to partner with University College Birmingham (UCB) to include undergraduates as our Student Ambassadors. Since 2016 we have appointed students from UCB to represent Dawn as Student Ambassadors. The added value for Dawn and our Student Ambassadors:
Dawn Student Ambassadors
• New recipe ideas with Dawn ingredients
• New content on Social Media
• Learn from the next generation
11th Ambassador in 2023
48 Social media posts created in 2023
2 Video sessions
with Student Ambassadors
8 PR mentions 4 Blogposts created in 2023
12 Recipes created using Dawn ingredients with Student Ambassadors
• Experience / involvement in campaign content development
• Experience on social media management
• Learn from experienced chefs
”The Dawn Foods Ambassador Program has provided some of our students with the fantastic opportunity of working on live industry projects. This not only allows them to put into practice some of the skills and theory that they learn whilst they are studying at university, but also raises their profile and provides them with an invaluable experience to take forward into their future careers within the baking industry”
Jo Lyons
Senior Lecturer in Higher Education - Bakery University College Birmingham
“It is a great honor and privilege to be nominated President Elect and to formally become President in June 2024 at the annual conference. This will be a personal highlight for me, allowing me to contribute to the bakery industry and collaborate with other bakery trade organizations to benefit students nationally as they develop their bakery skills for the future.”
For many years Dawn has supported the Alliance for Bakery Students & Trainees (ABST) with charity donations & sponsorship at the Annual Conference and by attending the conference. We also attend the conference to introduce Dawn to students by creating awareness of our products and how we fit into the baking industry.
The ABST serves as a cross-industry organization, fostering proactive dialogue between different industry partners and stakeholders. It focuses on bakery education and training, aiming to retain, develop, and maintain essential craft skills and technical knowledge required by the baking industry. The ABST provides guidance, shares information, and supports individuals studying bakery or undergoing bakery training. Additionally, it actively drives educational improvements and represents the voice of education within the baking industry.
Jacqui Passmore, our Marketing Lead - West Region Europe & AMEAP, has been nominated President Elect for ABST in 2023, taking on the role of President in 2024. The President Elect is a member of the ABST Executive Committee and learns about the ABST and what the President’s role is, as well as becoming responsible for the day to day running of the Alliance with the Executive Committee. After the hand-over ceremony at the annual conference in June, the President Elect will take over the President’s role to support bakery education and training within the industry. The President’s role is to help in raising the status of the Alliance and co-operate with other trade organisations. It is the responsibility of the President to secure charitable donations for the year ahead as the ABST is a non-profit organisation which supports the bakers of tomorrow today!
Jacqui Passmore Marketing Lead - West Region Europe & AMEAP and President Elect for ABST
4. Do you remember our first French Donut Champion, Niagalé Diallo?
We are thrilled to share the success story of Niagalé, whose journey was significantly boosted by participating in our 2022 French Donut Championship. Seeing Niagalé grow and thrive as a direct result of this event fills us with immense pride.
Given the growing popularity of donuts in France and our extensive expertise in American bakery products, particularly donuts, Dawn Foods France seized the opportunity by organizing the first Donut Championship in France. This event was held at the Sandwich and Snack Show in Paris in March 2022.
Through this initiative, we dedicate ourselves to building a bright future for bakers, inspiring creativity and fostering innovation in the industry.
We could not be more proud of Niagalé, who has opened not one, but six donut shops across France in 2023, exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit and potential our championship aims to nurture.
“My name is Niagalé, I am 25 years old, about American pastry. I am the proud French Donut Championship and the owner France. Competing in the Donut Championship game-changer for me professionally. recognition it provided has fueled substantial business. In just one year, I went from running proudly managing six.”
old, and I am passionate proud winner of the 2022 owner of Home Donuts in Championship has been a professionally. The exposure and substantial growth in my running a single shop to six.”
Offer 3 new Training & Development opportunities per Team Member/ year
At Dawn Foods, our training and development initiatives prioritize the growth and empowerment of our Team Members. With a commitment to putting our people at the forefront of our operations, we offer training and development opportunities to cultivate skills, foster leadership, and promote continuous learning.
In 2023, our training and development initiatives saw an impressive growth of 83% compared to 2022. This significant increase is partly attributed to the introduction of LinkedIn Learning training opportunities, which have broadened access to a diverse range of professional development resources. Additionally, we placed a strong emphasis on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) training to foster an inclusive workplace culture. Moreover, we introduced practical training programs tailored specifically for Team Members in our plants, ensuring they have the skills needed for operational excellence. These efforts reflect our commitment to continuous learning and development across all levels of our organization.
Our 2023 Training & Development Highlights
14,474 Total hours of training
1,365
Training hours on DE&I
+83% vs 2022
We proudly launched our LinkedIn Learning Program with a vision to empower Team Members through continuous learning and professional growth. We are thrilled our Team Members embraced the extensive range of courses and options available on the LinkedIn Learning platform.
DE&I training - We provide ongoing education and programs to foster a respectful and inclusive workplace.
2,708
1,858
Courses Completed Training hours on LinkedIn
6.3 Courses on average per Team Member
Launch of the Attensi Gamification Training App
In 2023, we introduced an exciting interactive gamified training tool. This method of training encourages repetition and practice through captivating gameplay. Immersed in realistic scenarios, Team Members develop skills and knowledge in a safe space. Our first module focused on the importance of Customer Centricity. Team Members navigate through departments, making real-world decisions, fostering learning through hands-on experience and repetition.
The Dawn Women’s Leadership Development Program (WLDP)
We are known for empowering women through our passion for leadership development and our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The vision of the Dawn Women’s Leadership Development Program (WLDP) is to be the best place to work for women. It helps create exceptional opportunities for professional growth so female Team Members can achieve their highest potential. The WLDP is a rolling program that partners with external partners to create more opportunities for the development and growth for women. We are proud to introduce two of the European Team Members who participated in the 2023 cohort of the WLDP: Magdalena Napierala and Véronique Descamps.
“The key insights of this program for me were gaining a greater awareness of the competences that advance us as leaders and the opportunity to learn about the hurdles and biases that female leaders face and how to overcome them.”
Magdalena Napierala
Finance Accounting Manager, Poland
I was honoured to be chosen for the WLDP and felt it recognised my continued efforts to drive my career forward. It really boosted my self-confidence and served as a valuable and transformative experience”
Véronique Descamps
NPD Project Manager Wets, Europe & AMEAP
Promote the importance of mental health with 3 new initiatives
At Dawn, we promote a culture where our Team Members can develop their full potential, be productive, build positive relationships with others, and make meaningful contributions. This is only possible when we take care of our physical and mental wellbeing.
12
DE&I Initiatives Mental Health Initatives
Some of our 2023 initiatives to promote the importance of mental health and an inclusive environment for our Team Members include: 08
A Career Conversation with our CFO
Jennifer Cloherty and a keynote from Erin Hatzikostas
We began with Jennifer Cloherty sharing her career journey, insights, challenges, and success strategies. This was followed by a keynote from Erin Hatzikostas, former CEO, author, TEDx and keynote speaker on “How to Use Authenticity as a Secret Weapon.”
International Women’s day
For International Women’s Day, our Amstelveen Office hosted virtual events featuring Olive Strachan MBE for all Dawn Team Members. In her keynote, “Life is What You Bake It,” she discussed overcoming adversity, seizing challenges as opportunities, and developing a strong mindset. In a one-to-one with Majella de Bruijn, Vice President - Marketing and R&D, Europe & AMEAP, Olive explored equity vs. equality, building supportive networks, and community giving. Olive also led a live Masterclass on overcoming Imposter Phenomenon, offering practical advice on self-worth and organizational value.
23
Purposeful Pause - Neck & Shoulder relief
In August, we reminded our team of the importance of purposeful pauses—taking time to focus on mental health and wellbeing. During a 7-minute exercise, we demonstrated how to release muscle fatigue and tension using self-massage and acupressure techniques.
10
Recognising World Suicide Prevention Day
In September, we spoke with two Dawn Team Members who have been impacted by suicide. They shared their deeply personal experiences, the warning signs of suicide, and how to provide support to those who are struggling.
Seasonal Stress Webinar
10 OCT
Pride month
We were delighted to welcome Matt Lindley, a former Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who delivered a keynote address on the importance of allyship, staying true to oneself, and the positive impact of empathy on us all. Matt is a diversity keynote speaker and was one of the first ever openly gay pilots in the RAF.
06 DEC
To recognize World Mental Health Day, we were pleased to offer a Seasonal Stress Webinar. This webinar shared strategies to stay energized as the seasons change, provided valuable tips on improving sleep, and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook during stressful periods.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
In December, our global team hosted a fireside chat with Marisa Hamamoto, a stroke survivor, fourth-generation Japanese American, and advocate for the late-diagnosed autistic community, alongside Katie Rogotzke, Senior Manager of Global People & Culture. They discussed disability awareness and fostering inclusivity in our environment.
Operate responsibly with products that delight
Our 2025 ambitions for Products
1
Implement sustainable packaging solutions
2
3
Increase the range of better-for-you products by offering new and reformulated solutions to drive new nutritional standards. Reduction of carbon footprint in our plants through optimized management of energy, water and waste.
Implement 100% recyclable or re-usable packaging
Increasing the number of Dawn Balance® SKU’s by 50%
Waste reduction Recycle 100% of general waste
Actively promote to elimate all single-use plastics
Sodium reduction to align to the IFBA 2025 standards
vs. 2021
2023 highlights an introduction
Our business revolves around delicious treats and indulgence. The joy, flavour, and sensory experience are at the heart of what we do, especially within our category of pastries and sweet bakery items. At the same time, we see a shift in consumer behaviour. People are making conscious decisions about the food they consume, considering the impact on both themselves and the planet. Even within the indulgent category, there is room for mindful choices. We know from our research that indulgence and wellbeing can go together very well. From a smaller, yet still indulgent ‘pick me up’ that has a positive impact on your mental state, to tasty sweet bakes that are designed to be ‘better-for-you’.
This is why we committed ourselves to innovate in the ‘better-foryou’ space and set a new standard, where possible. Our Balance range provides solutions with ingredients designed to enhance the nutritional profile of sweet bakery items without sacrificing taste. This is focused around improving certain aspects like; less sugar, less salt, less (saturated) fat, cleaner label and creating plant-based solutions.
Is it easy? No, as a manufacturer of high-quality bakery ingredients, we understand the delicate balance between indulgence and nutrition. We use natural flavours, colours and sweeteners and avoid artificial additives, where possible. Indulgence can also be achieved by playing with textures. I’m particularly proud of our vegan innovations, which are a testament to our commitment and drive for innovation. Despite the absence of traditional ingredients like butter, eggs, and other animal derived ingredients, we have been able to create plant-based and vegan alternatives that still deliver on key sensorial aspects.
Our ingredients don’t just taste amazing, they perform seamlessly across diverse production lines. Our customers can trust we take our commitment seriously: sourcing ingredients from trusted suppliers and adhering to rigorous quality standards to ensure consistency in performance, taste, texture and appearance.
Our goal is to create delightful treats that satisfy and align with modern consumer preferences. It is a delicate balance!
On the following pages you will find more details on our progression in 2023 against our ambitions:
• Implement sustainable pakacing solutions
• Increase our range of better-for-you products
• Reduce carbon footprint of our plants
GIJS HEIDSTRA, Vice president People
MAJELLA DE BRUIJN Vice President Marketing and R&D, Europe & AMEAP
Dawn Tried and true products that provide consistent quality and performance.
Dawn Exceptional Dawn’s premium, differentiated product line that delivers category-leading quality and performance.
Dawn Balance better-for-you products that don’t sacrifice taste or performance. OUR
With our product ambitions and programs in action, we contribute to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s):
13. We actively reduce the carbon footprint of our production sites by optimising our energy management, water usage and waste streams. to
3. As a food manufacturer, we focus on developing ingredient solutions that contribute to consumers’ health and well-being.
7. We are in the midst of an energy transition, and where possible, we are moving to renewable sources of energy such as solar.
12. We are conscious of our environmental footprint in relation to producing our ingredients and aim to have zero waste and produce our products as efficiently as possible.
Implement 100% recyclable or re-usable packaging
We are dedicated to achieving a bold target: ensuring all our packaging is recyclable or re-useable by 2025. While the actual recyclability of packaging depends on the existing recycle streams and infrastructure in each country, we can ensure the materials we select are recycle-ready.
In 2022, 82% of our packaging material was recycle-ready. Carton constituted a large part of this amount as it is used extensively for packaging frozen bakery items. We exited the frozen bakery business in late 2022, and in 2023, we have reassessed our action plan. Beyond making our packaging recyclable or re-usable, we are exploring ways to further optimise our packaging and making it more sustainable.
Actively promote to elimate all single-use plastic
When we set our 2025 sustainability ambitions, our frozen business was still a significant part of our operations, which made use of single-use plastic packaging like cookie and muffin wrappers. We recognize the importance of addressing the issue of single-use plastics in collaboration with our customers as part of our sustainability goals. However, we have now shifted our focus to areas where we can have a bigger impact.
Increase the number of Dawn Balance SKU’s by 50%
The ‘better-for-you’ market is growing and consumer expectations and requirements are rapidly evolving. From expectations to simply remove less desirable ingredients, to the conscious effort to add ingredients that benefit both the mind and body. Consumers no longer settle for products that taste just okay; they expect them to be simply delicious, like the indulgent bakery treats they are used to. To meet this evolving demand, our R&D teams are continiously developing targeted capabilities and products across various categories. Our ambitious goal is to expand our better-for-you product range by 50% by 2025. On the following pages you will find a selection of our 2023 highlights:
We launched 6 new Dawn Balance® products in 2023
+37% vs 2021
In addition to our standard Dawn portfolio that we offer to all bakers, we work in partnership with customers on tailoring and developing customised products specific to their needs and requirements. In our customised New Product Development briefs, we are noticing a shift towards more ‘betterfor-you’ bakery products.
+9% better-for-you NPD briefings compared to 2022 of which 56% Vegan or Cleaner Label
• Dawn Balance® Delicream Caramel Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Cold Custard Creme Mix Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Sponge Cake Mix Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Fond Neutral Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Donut Mix Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Crunchy Peanut Butter Filling
More information on the next page!
“Today’s consumers are putting a great deal of thought into the foods they eat, and are increasingly aware of how their choices affect their personal health, their community, and planet. Veganism has gained significant popularity in Europe, and the demand for plant-based food options now extends to the bakery aisle.
Following this growing demand from conscious consumers, we have developed a complete vegan assortment as part of our Dawn Balance® range with 5 vegan products added in 2023. Our customers can elevate vegan pastries and desserts to a level of indulgence that can easily rival, and in some cases, outshine their non-vegan counterparts.
The bakery industry has an opportunity to tap into this trend by offering vegan products, thereby creating a product range that meets every customer demand.
“Now that vegan sweet bakes are matching in taste and texture, we predict they will become the standard for many applications as bakers will try to cater to all customer dietary requirements in one product.”
Marie Frigo
Category Marketing Manager Dry, Europe & AMEAP
Our 2023 Dawn Balance® product launches:
1. Dawn Balance® Sponge Cake Mix Vegan
Our R&D teams used their knowledge and expertise to solve the challenge of removing the high amount of eggs from the recipe to create a vegan product. With good batter structure and aeration, customers can enjoy similar eating properties and sensorial experience as in regular sponges, now in a vegan version.
2. Dawn Balance® Donut Mix Vegan
Our Dawn Balance® Donut Mix Vegan offers a solution for crafting delicious, plant-based donuts with ease. This highquality mix ensures every donut is moist, tender, and full of flavour, without the use of any animal derived ingredients.
This delectable Caramel Delicream offers unmatched creaminess, all without a single dairy ingredient. Its velvety texture and sensational taste offer endless possibilites for culinary artistry.
A cream stabilizer to make vegan mousses and bavarois!
4. Dawn Balance® Crunchy Peanut Butter Filling
Packed with protein, fibre and no added sugar*, our peanut butter is a perfect ingredient for the health conscious consumer. *contains naturally occurring sugar
6. Dawn Balance® Cold Custard Creme Mix Vegan
This versatile vegan mix is perfect for creating smooth and delicious custard fillings, suitable for a variety of desserts from pastries to tarts.
5. Dawn Balance® Fond Mix Vegan
We even won a Broodway
In September our Team in the Benelux won the Broodway Innovation Award for our Dawn Balance® Fond Mix Vegan Dawn Balance® Fond Mix Vegan
A cream stabilizer to make vegan mousses and bavarois!
In the picture:
Hendrik Rommelaere - Chairman Broodway Florence Meyer - Sales Manager Distribition, Belgium
We organized 2 vegan inspiration days in the Netherlands
A very successful event where Wouter Staal, founder and CEO of YB (formerly Yoghurt Barn), shared his personal story, provided insight into legislation and answered concrete questions such as ‘do you communicate plant-based with the consumer or not?’ In addition, our application specialists gave an educational demonstration of our extensive product range with a tasting session.
Next to these 6 product launches we have developed the following capabilites:
• Dawn Balance® Whipped Creme Mix Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Cake Donut Mix Plain
• Dawn Balance® Choux Mix Vegan
• Dawn Balance® Fond Mix Strawberry
• Dawn Balance® Fond Mix Chocolate
“The vegan movement has gained momentum, even in sweet bakery. Some categories now consider the vegan variant as the standard offering. However, developing vegan alternatives is not straightforward. Ingredients like eggs, integral to traditional baking processes, pose difficulties when replaced. One standout innovation for me is our Vegan Whipped Creme. Unlike traditional mousse products, our version is a powder. Customers simply mix it with water and vegetable oil in production. The use of non-hydrogenated vegetable oils aligns with better-for-you goals. Additionally, a powder eliminates the need to transport or store water, reducing energy consumption during production.”
Erwin de Waele Global R&D Innovation Manager
Challenges and opportunities for R&D in better-for-You developments
Developing better-for-you sweet bakery ingredients poses a mix of technical challenges and exciting opportunities. Finding technical, innovative ‘better-for-you’ solutions for a category where indulgence and taste are a key consumption driver, is what motivates our R&D teams: to develop our products with a better nutritional profile, better for the environment, cleaner, while still tasting as delicious and indulgent as before. The key elements of this challenge?
Balancing Indulgence and Nutrition:
Sweet bakery products are inherently indulgent, often relying on sugar and fat to create their delightful flavours. How can we enhance our products from a nutritional standpoint without compromising taste? This question drives R&D efforts, pushing scientists and innovators to explore novel solutions.
Exploring New Raw Materials:
To create cleaner label products or vegan alternatives, our R&D teams experiment with new raw materials. We keep a close watch on the evolving landscape of raw material innovations, as what seems impossible today may become feasible in the future. Collaborating closely with suppliers is crucial. Together, we explore the next generation of raw materials, evaluating their performance and compatibility within our recipes.
”Developing better-for-you sweet bakery ingredients, a category that is by nature indulgent and where sugar and fat play an important role in the taste and appeal of the application, is bringing technical challenges that R&D loves to take on.”
Christoph Rottmann R&D Center of Excellence Manager Dry, Europe & AMEAP
”I enjoy working with the new, younger generation of product developers who bring fresh new ideas and different ways of working. They are heavily invested in developing products which minimize the environmental impact and are better for you - challenging the R&D team team as a whole to think differently and come with new solutions.”
Thomas Deconinck R&D Center of Excellence Manager Wets, Europe & AMEAP
In 2021, Dawn committed to aligning with the International Food & Beverage Alliance (IFBA) global sodium targets for 2025 in two categories: “Dessert baking dry mixes” (mixes for cakes, cookies, brownies, muffins) and “Variety/Pancake baking dry mixes” (mixes for non-dessert items like pancakes, waffles, biscuits).
The IFBA sodium reduction targets for 2025 for these categories are as follows:
• Dessert Baking Dry Ingredients): 880mg/100g (as sold)
• Variety/Pancake Baking Dry Mixes 980mg/100g (as sold)
Dawn’s branded portfolio complies with these targets:
• 92,5% of Dawn ingredients that fall in the Dessert Baking Dry ingredients are compliant.
• 90% of Dawn ingredients that fall in the Variety/Pancake Baking Dry Mixes are compliant.
To take our commitment to reduce sodium in our products a step further, we have extended this ambition to additional ingredient categories, like donut mixes. In addition, we challenge ourselves to ensure all products in scope are within the targeted amount of sodium and we have set these targets as a standard for new product developments.
we are aligned with 2025 IFBA’s targets
The IFBA Global Sodium Reduction Commitment sets targets that IFBA companies voluntarily meet as a minimum by 2025 and 2030.
Within each category, 90% of the aggregated sales volume of related products must comply with the set category targets by 2025.
Sodium reduction:
Sodium reduction to IFBA 2025 standards
”
A strong culture of safety and quality enables Team Members to take responsibility and address issues openly, leading to continuous improvement and safer products and production environments.”
A conversation with Barbara Gluchy Quality Manager
Q1: What is your role at Dawn?
I am the Quality Manager at our Evesham plant and it is my job to ensure our products produced in Evesham are compliant to all safety and quality regulations.
Q2: Why is a good safety and quality culture important to you?
My role involves ensuring products are produced safely and in compliance with regulations and industry/customer standards. A strong culture of safety and quality enables team members to take responsibility and address issues openly, leading to continuous improvement and safer products and production environments.
Q3: Can you share something on the 2023 safety & quality culture assessment?
First Time Right: 99,21%
All sites are GFSI certified, A or above according to BRCGS standard
As a BRC requirement, we conduct an annual survey at each production site focused on food safety culture. Last year, it was decided to expand the survey to include health & safety, food safety and quality culture questions across all locations including offices, to get a comprehensive view of our culture in Europe. Our organization, with eight diverse plants, benefits from this approach by enabling direct comparisons and sharing best practices. A follow-up survey is planned for the end of 2024 to assess progress across all sites. Total Recordable Cases Incident Rate: 3,46%
2023
Reduce Carbon Footprint of our Plants
In our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we are thrilled to share our progress in reducing our carbon footprint across our operations spanning eight plants. Through efforts focused on waste management, energy efficiency, and water conservation, we have significantly reduced our environmental impact.
Waste Reduction
All our general waste is 100% recyclable
In 2022, we made significant strides in optimizing waste streams at our European plants and we continue to do so. Now, all waste from our production sites is either recycled or used as animal feed.
“In 2023 we installed a new compressor station in Darmstadt and are independent in air supply now. This helps us to reduce energy consumption significantly and save on operating costs. Energy-efficient solutions contribute to driving a more sustainable and environmental responsible operation. Next to that we reduced our carbon footprint by 82,347 kg, through waste separation.”
Alexander Kandlen Plant Manager Darmstadt, Germany
Energy reduction
We have taken a significant step by installing approximately 200m² of solar panels across our plants in Poland. This initiative reflects our commitment to sustainable energy practices and underscores our dedication to reducing our environmental impact.
3/8 Plants have solar panels now!
“I am proud to announce we have installed approximately 200m² of solar panels across our plants in Poland. This marks a significant step forward in reducing our carbon footprint. In the coming years, we plan to extend solar panel installations to our sites in Groningen (The Netherlands) and Erquinghem-Lys (France).”
Bartele Bouma VP of Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Europe & AMEAP
618,908 KWH generated with Solar Panels
+32% vs 2021
10,21% of our energy is generated by Solar Panels
10%
of our energy is generated by solar panels
“I am pleased to share our waste has been repurposed entirely into animal feed, eliminating the need for burning or landfill. Additionally, through the recent modification of our boiler, it now caters precisely to our process requirements. This will lead to a significant reduction in gas usage, as instead of emitting 7000 kg/hr of steam, it now produces 250 kg/hr.”
José Guedes Plant Manager Palmela, Portugal
Develop positive partnerships that make an impact
Our 2025 ambitions for Customers
1
Drive ethical, sustainable and responsible behaviour in our organization and supply chain.
100% of our suppliers acknowledge our Code of Excellence
2
3
Create supply chain transparency Responsible sourcing initiatives
All of our plants registered with Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
Maximize current responsible sourcing initiatives by increasing Rainforest Alliance certification on cocoa to 75%
Extending responsible sourcing initiatives on key ingredients
2023 highlights an introduction
Where in 2022 I was pleased we were able to maintain our position with respect to responsible sourcing, I am proud that in 2023 we have been able to make progress against our ambitions.
In 2023, several raw material supply markets have stabilized. Despite the challenges we faced in the supply of ingredients, linked to the war in Ukraine, Avian flu, and unfavorable cocoa crops, we were able to move forward. Our RSPO and Rainforest Alliance certifications for Palm and Cocoa have increased, and our egg supply remains 100% cage-free.
The upcoming deforestation regulation (EU 2023/1115) was released as the European Union recognized the importance of preserving the worlds forests and combatting deforestation within cattle, cocoa, soy, palm oil, rubber and timber supply chains. The relevant commodities for us are cocoa, soy and palm oil. We have determined the scope of our portfolio for which the regulation applies and are reviewing risks assessments and supplier engagement needed for compliance with the regulation in the years ahead.
On the following pages you will find more details on our progression in 2023 against our ambitions:
• Drive ethical, sustainable and responsible behaviour in our organization and supply chain.
• Create supply chain transparency by having all our plants registered with SEDEX.
• Extending responsible sourcing initiatives and assurance of key ingredients
JOHANNES ROGAAR Vice President Procurement, Europe & AMEAP
Our customers:
When you partner with Dawn, you get more than just great products. You get the partnership, expertise and dedication to help make your bakery a business success. Dawn bakery ingredients deliver consistent, delicious baked goods because they’re formulated to be incredibly reliable and made with one unyielding purpose - to help you succeed.
• Artisanal bakers
• Manufacturers
• Supermarket-bakeries
• Foodservice
Additionally to these 4 customer groups, we are working together with our distribution partners to deliver our ingredients to our users as efficiently as possible.
to the world’s SDG’S our contribution
With our product ambitions and programs in action, we contribute to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s):
8. We hold both our Team and our supply partners from whom we source our ingredients accountable for ethical and fair treatment of employees.
15. Most of our raw materials are sourced from land, and through our sustainable sourcing programmes and certificates we help minimise the impact and work to conserve or restore ecosystems.
16. Through our Code of Excellence, we establish ethical business practices in our organisation and across the supply chain.
17. While we are a global bakery ingredients manufacturer, we can only make a true difference if we work together with our partners, our customers, our suppliers and NGOs.
100% of our suppliers acknowledged our Code of Excellence
The Dawn Code of Excellence serves as the foundation for how we do business. Everything we do is focused on the goal of winning with excellence – for our customers and our company. It is this commitment that empowers us to be the most effective producer and distributor of quality bakery products to customers worldwide.
100% of our suppliers acknowledged our Code of Excellence
All our ingredient suppliers have acknowledged our Code of Excellence or have similar codes in place.
Dawn Speak Up Hotline
We offer an anonymous 24-hour Speak-Up hotline, staffed by an independent third party, to encourage Team Members, partners, and suppliers to share their concerns, opinions, or suggestions.
All our plants registered with Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
8/8
Dawn plants are registered with Sedex
Maximize current responsible sourcing initiatives
Cocoa
In 2022, 60% of our cocoa raw materials, including the cocoa used in our frozen products, were Rainforest Alliance Certified. As frozen products used relatively high cocoa volumes, the total certified cocoa volume decreased to 40% after the sale of our fozen business. Looking ahead to 2024, we are committed to increasing this figure to reach our set ambition of 75% Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa by end of 2024, reaffirming our dedication to more sustainable sourcing practices. Find out more at www.rainforest-alliance.org.
membership nr:
4-0905-17-000-000
Palm oil
Palm oil was one of the first raw material groups we prioritised for sustainable sourcing. Our European production sites signed up individually in 2011, and since becoming a group member of the RSPO in 2017, we have made significant progress. All palm oil and palm oil derivates used in our productions sites is 100% RSPO certified. Year on year we are able to move the needle from a majority mass balance certified to a majority segregated certified. In 2022, one-third of the palm oil we source was RSPO segregated (SG) certified. Building on this progress, we have now increased this to 55% in 2023.
100%
RSPO certified palm oil and palm fats.
Cage free eggs
We are proud to maintain our 100% cage free claim for all our products. Since 2017 we have been sourcing our egg powders from either barn or free range eggs sources.
Soy
Soy is a relatively small volume for Dawn, but the soy we use is for 99% ProTerra Certified and of EU origin. We are working on moving to 100%.
2023 to 2022
Progress is a journey, and every small step we take contributes to our larger mission. We recognize that collaboration with our customers and industry partners is essential. Together, we can drive positive change and create a more sustainable future.
Do you have any questions about our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility? Go to
