euro adhoc: Valora Holding AG
other
Valora´s implementation of its Valora 4
Success strategy continues apace
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
Valora: Implementation of its strategy
11.02.2009
Valora´s implementation of its Valora 4 Success strategy continues apace: - conclusion of a general employment contract improves terms of employment for Valora staff - logistics facility move successfully completes major milestone
General employment contract improves terms of employment for Valora staff Valora and the Swiss trade union Syna have today concluded a general contract of employment. This contract, which will apply retro-actively with effect from January 1, 2009, covers all Valora employees in Switzerland.
The introduction of this general contract of employment has enabled Valora to improve the employment terms for its staff in a number of respects. The contract governs the following important areas: - contractual minimum wages, graduated according to employees´ qualifications - entitlement to a 13th monthly wage or salary - 5 weeks paid holiday for all staff, rising to 6 weeks from age 50 - paid vocational training days for retail staff with a view to upgrading the retail sector - adjustment of weekly working times - increase in night shift pay.
Valora has maintained a regular dialogue with the Syna union for some years now. Both parties agreed more than a year ago to negotiate a general contract of employment. Representatives of Valora staff also participated in these negotiations.
In implementing this general contract of employment, which enshrines and cements recent enhancements in employment conditions, Valora has given a clear signal of its commitment to an active partnership between employee and employer.
Logistics facility move successfully completes major milestone Valora´s new logistics facility in Egerkingen opened its doors in late November, with beverages as its first category. This was followed by tobacco goods, whose Egerkingen logistics started 10 days ago. The next steps for these two categories are the de-commissioning of their legacy systems and the introduction of modern applications, such as voice-based and light-based picking systems, which can simultaneously handle orders for several customers. These new systems will significantly raise the efficiency and quality of logistics operations.
The transfer of Valora´s tobacco logistics to the Egerkingen facility coincided with the integration of operations previously carried out at its external logistics sites in Oensingen and Aarburg into the Egerkingen operation. Further efficiency gains were achieved by modifying the delivery areas covered by the railheads in Schlieren, Zollikofen and Egerkingen, so that all deliveries to Switzerland´s "Mittelland" region are covered from Egerkingen, thus further centralising the group´s logistics and enhancing their performance. The moves and their implementation phases were all executed smoothly, without any interruption of services to customers.
"We have now successfully reached a further milestone in this key project. Despite some initial scepticism, our Egerkingen staff are now very enthusiastic about the new, streamlined processes." said Thomas Vollmoeller, CEO.
*** Valora Holding AG Valora is an exchange-listed international trading company devoted to supplying consumer markets which have high turnover potential. The group´s activities are clearly focused on those European markets where modern, mobile lifestyles have become widespread.
- Valora Retail operates a number of standardised retail formats (k kiosk, avec., presse & buch, Caffè Spettacolo) in heavily frequented locations in Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg. - Valora Media supplies press products both to Valora´s own retail outlets and to third-party customers in Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg. - Valora Trade is an exclusive distributor of food and non-food branded fast-moving consumer goods in key European markets.
In 2007, the Valora group generated sales of CHF 2,821 million.
Further information is available on www.valora.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Media Relations: Tel: +41 58 789 12 01
Stefania Misteli E-mail: stefania.misteli@valora.com
or
Investor Relations: Tel: +41 58 789 12 20
Mladen Tomic E-mail: mladen.tomic@valora.com
Branche: Retail
ISIN: CH0002088976
WKN: 208897
Börsen: SWX Swiss Exchange / official market
BX Berne eXchange / official dealing