New development plan reinforces ADM, Unilever partnership

A JOINT Business Development Plan recently signed by Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) furthers its oils and fat business with Unilever (NYSE: UN) in Europe, North America and Africa.

The development plan outlines long-term strategy as well as targets on volume, new product development, growth, innovation and sustainability. It revitalises these companies' existing cooperation: (1) ADM already sources and processes sustainable soy beans and supplies Unilever with oil for Hellmann’s Mayonnaise under the ADM/Unilever Soybean Sustainability Programme in the U.S., (2) and their partnership with LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) in Europe, which promotes sustainable agricultural practices at the farm level to produce sustainable rapeseed oil for Unilever’s Flora spreads, as well as for Hellmann’s UK.

“ADM’s end-to-end value chain allows us control of our product flow in ways that few in the industry can offer. Strengthening our existing partnership with Unilever will allow us to build upon those capabilities and leverage our unique supply chain to continue to provide high-quality, sustainable ingredients and innovative solutions to Unilever and their customers,” said Matt Jansen, ADM senior vice president and president, Oilseeds.

“Programmes like the ADM/Unilever Soybean Sustainability Programme and our joint partnership with LEAF are great examples of how we can creatively work together to deliver unique solutions for sustainable sourcing, and the JBDP will help advance that type of innovation between our companies,” said Amit Mohta, VP Procurement Commodities, Unilever. “We look forward to continuing to grow and expand our partnership with ADM.”

Furthermore, the new plan will drive ADM's current sustainability initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe, enhancing its supply chain to provide Unilever with sustainably-produced oils and fats products.