AAK Annual Report 2017

Successful Customer Co-Development approach bringing solutions to market Chocolate & Confectionery Fats supplies speciality vegetable fats used as cocoa butter alternatives for chocolate products. AAK has a wide product portfolio based on customer require- ments. Using our customer co-development approach, many of our new product launches are developed and customized in close collaboration with our customers. Our solutions for the chocolate and confectionery industry cover a wide range of product applications, including chocolate fats and FRPSRXQG IDWV IRU FRDWLQJ DQG PROGLQJ ¿OOLQJ IDWV EDUULHU fats, and spreads. One of our new, innovative solutions that we brought to the market in 2016, TROPICAO ™ UHVXOWHG LQ D ¿UVW FRPPHU - cial sale at the end of 2017. TROPICAO ™ is a solution for chocolate manufacturers to produce bloom-stable chocolate and still maintain the chocolate’s sensorial properties even in very warm conditions. For 2018, we look forward to further commercialize and expand this business together with other new innovations in our pipeline. Our business is global but there are many regional requirements from our customers and the end consumers. Therefore, we offer various solutions to create the JUHDWHVW SRVVLEOH EHQH¿W IRU RXU FXVWRPHUV¶ EXVLQHVVHV DQG for the end users’ chocolate experiences. The typical func- WLRQDOLWLHV ZH RIIHU ZLWK RXU IDW VROXWLRQV LQÀXHQFH WKH WDVWH DSSHDUDQFH DQG WH[WXUH RI WKH ¿QDO FRQIHFWLRQHU\ SURGXFW Consistent with AAK’s strong market focus, we deliver LQQRYDWLYH VROXWLRQV WKDW UHÀHFW PDUNHW WUHQGV DQG DQWLFLSDWH customer requirements. Our wide product range is the result of targeted development work carried out in our Customer Innovation Centers globally, where we work with our customers. We provide our customers with value-adding solutions to optimize their production and their products. We organize academies and innovation days for customers, in-house, externally or at their premises, to inspire them with newly developed applications, solutions, innovations, and concept proposals for use in their products. Our efforts to develop innovative, healthier versions of our products have proven to be successful. We offer a wide range of products that are free of trans fats and low in saturated fats.