n 2008, Danone recorded an organic growth rate of 8.4% — practical proof that its business growth model truly works. With its operating margin increasing for the 14th year running, the group further strengthened its global standing: world no. 1 in fresh dairy products, world no. 2 in bottled waters, world no. 2 in baby nutrition and European no. 1 in medical nutrition. The group’s performance is the result of a balanced strategy that builds on international expansion, a growing commitment to innovation, and strengthening health-oriented brands. In order to live up to its ambitions, Danone invests heavily in Research & Development — €208 million in 2008. One hundred percent of projects currently in the pipeline focus on health and nutrition. Three centuries after the benefits of Evian mineral water were discovered, over a century after Blédine was first marketed, and nearly a century after the first Danone yoghurt was retailed in a pharmacy, health innovation remains more than ever a driver of the group’s business growth. 2008 confirmed that the previous year’s acquisition of the Dutch group Numico was strategically sound. With this move, Danone incorporated into its strategy two profitable, fast-growing health-oriented business lines: medical nutrition and baby nutrition. They naturally round off the group’s brand portfolio and are perfectly aligned with its mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Today Danone is the only food group to focus totally on health.

The late Vincent Charles Ferachi started the family-owned business in the 1940s. Capitol City Produce is a fresh fruits and vegetables supplier in the capitol city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as in the surrounding region. Capitol City Produce company provides products to food service and retail operations in the southeastern US. It specializes in fresh produce and herbs, as well as frozen vegetables and processed items. Capitol City Produce operates a refrigerated storage facility and a delivery fleet of 50 trucks.

JFC International is proud of its roots, dating back to the early 1900's. Today's modern JFC company was formally established in 1958. Ever since, the corporation has broadened and enhanced its 15,000-item product line by penetrating new geographic and consumer markets in fulfilling its commitment of leading the way to tomorrow. JFC's innovative corporate character has generated substantial increases in exports and imports among Asian countries. Additionally, it has recently acquired specialty and health foods to complement its ever-growing line of food products. With JFC International automated, state-of-the-art warehouse facilities, contemporary office environment and modern test kitchen, JFC successfully provides customers with premium products, delivered through expedient service.

American Crystal Sugar Company is a world-class agricultural cooperative specializing in the production of sugar and related agri-products. American Crystal is owned by approximately 3,000 shareholders who raise 500,000 acres of sugarbeets in the Red River Valley of Minnesota and North Dakota. As the largest beet sugar producer in the United States, American Crystal utilizes innovative farming practices, low-cost production methods and sales and marketing leadership to produce about 15 percent of America’s highest quality sugar. The Company operates sugar factories in Crookston, East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota; Drayton and Hillsboro, North Dakota; and in Sidney, Montana under the name Sidney Sugars Incorporated. American Crystal's technical services center and corporate headquarters are also located in Moorhead. Located in Edina, Minnesota, United Sugars Corporation markets American Crystal's sugar to retail and industrial customers throughout the nation. Midwest Agri-Commodities Company, based in Corte Madera, California, globally markets American Crystal's agri-products such as sugarbeet pulp and molasses.

Omega Protein Corporation is the world's largest producer of omega-3 fish oil and North America's largest manufacturer of protein-rich specialty fishmeal and organic fish solubles.Omega Protein markets a custom line of omega-3 fish oil, protein-rich specialty fishmeal and organic fish solubles for aquaculture, companion animal, livestock and equine feed manufacturers. We produce ultra-refined, molecularly distilled omega-3 ingredients for human food manufacturers, and we market branded fish solubles as agronomic plant food.Only Omega Protein has the custom products, expertise and resources to help your company take advantage of the proven benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and the superior amino acid profile of fish protein.We control every step of the production process—from our company-owned fishing vessel to our processing centers to our strategically located warehouses—we ensure product integrity, consistent quality and complete traceability.As a leader in the industry, we established the OmegaPure Technology and Innovation Center for research and development of new and profitable ways to integrate omega-3 fatty acids in food, feed and fertilizer formulations.

Founded by Donald Wentzel in 1958 near Milford, Indiana, Maple Leaf Farms began as a small duck operation producing 280,000 ducks its first year. Maple Leaf Farms' commitment to "quality you can count on" fueled its growth over the next several years as its duck operation grew to more than 1 million in 1964. Although Mr. Wentzel passed away in 1968, his son-in-law Terry Tucker has carried on his vision at Maple Leaf Farms.The Tucker family continues to set the direction for the company, based on its values of commitment to family, friends, personal fulfillment, community involvement, and, of course, quality products. Today, this family-owned company dominates the North American duck market with innovative, value-added products of unequalled quality that create, "The Meals You Remember."

The family-owned and -operated The Musco Family Olive Co. was founded by Nicolo Musco, who immigrated to the US from Italy in the 1920s to start a food-distribution company. The Musco Family Olive Co. is the leading maker of canned and brined olives in the US. The Musco Family Olive company sells its products primarily under its flagship Pearls brand. It also sells olives under the Early California brand, as well as offering private-label services. Musco's products, which include black, green, and Mediterranean olives in sliced, chopped, pitted, and whole varieties, are sold through retail food outlets, as well as to restaurants and other foodservice providers across the nation.

The Hain Celestial Group serves up guiltless eating. It sells specialty foods and beverages (coffee and tea) in the kosher, low-cal, sugar-free and low-salt, natural and organic, snack, and weight-management categories. The company's products are mainstays in natural foods stores and are increasingly available in mainstream supermarkets; club, mass-market, and drug stores; and through foodservice channels. Hain is also a player in the personal care products sector, offering disposable diapers and shampoo; its JASON Natural Products makes grooming products for adults, such as skin- and hair-care items. Hain's products are sold throughout the US and in some 50 other countries.

Nordzucker AG was formerly known as Zuckerverbund Nord AG and changed its name in 1998. Nordzucker AG is based in Braunschweig, Germany. Nordzucker AG produces and sells sugar made from beet in Europe. Its products include industrial and household sugar; sugar by-products, including sugar beet pellets; molasses that is used to enhance the nutritional content of feed, as well as used in yeast and alcohol industry, or by feed manufacturers; and bee feed for honey producers. Nordzucker AG also produces bioethanol from sugar beet. It offers its products to the food processing industry, chemical or pharmaceutical industries, retailers, and end users.

Marich Confectionery Co. product development team is responsible for some of the industry's most innovative new products. Marich Confectionery Co. combine the art and science of candy making, developing products through ardent experimentation. We passionately explore the taste, texture, and appearance until we find the perfect balance. Customers know they can turn to us to develop new and exciting products, while maintaining a consistent level of excellence throughout the product line. Marich Confectionery Co. dedicate ourselves to finding the best ingredients and treating them with careful attention. Each of our ingredients comes to us from people who believe in their products--the coffee roaster who takes painstaking care with his beans, the fourth-generation chocolate making family, the dedicated growers of our nuts and fruits. Through the years, we have cultivated relationships with these preferred suppliers who are as careful with what they bring to us as we are with what we deliver to customers.

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