Press releases

Sundbyberg, September 19, 2019: On September 20, the Swedish food company Semper, will be celebrating its 80th birthday. What started as a venture when pioneer Ninni Kronberg invented a method for drying milk has resulted in Semper – part of the Hero Group, which has a mission to delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature – as the market leader in the Nordics for baby food and gluten-free products. Semper is looking to the next 80 years with the same vision: that everyone has the right to good food.

In recent years, interest in food has grown and consumers are becoming more aware of what they are buying and eating, and baby food is no exception. To cook and develop good food of the highest quality is no novelty for the Swedish baby food company Semper.

From the beginning in 1939, innovation and development has characterised the company. Ninni Kronberg invented an entirely new way of drying milk into powder, making it possible to develop a sustainable way of dealing with the excess of milk. The patent for Ninni’s invention was bought by entrepreneur, Axel Wenner-Gren, who founded Svenska Mjölkprodukter AB, later to become Semper AB. In 1942, Semper built a new plant in Götene, Västergötland, and started to develop porridge, bakery products and the world’s first manufactured infant formula.

“I am very proud of our strong history, how Semper has grown by being innovative and leading the way, while also preserving our inheritance. It is particularly exciting that it was a woman who, in the 1930s, formed the foundation for the biggest Nordic player within baby food and gluten-free products.

“Ninni’s enthusiasm and curiosity lives on today as we at Semper are constantly challenging ourselves and pushing ahead,” says Catharina Tennefors, R&D and Quality Director Semper.

Between 1960 and 1990, Semper changed a lot. Everything from blue cheese to Pucko, desserts and toys were launched. However, baby food continued to be at the heart of the business.

During the 1990s, the demand for gluten-free products grew in Sweden, and Semper was quick to meet that consumer need. Today, the company has its own gluten-free crispbread bakery in Falun and a test bakery at the head office in Sundbyberg, where various recipes are produced in close cooperation with consumers and dieticians.

Baby food, gluten-free products and infant formula are today Semper’s three primary areas, and the products are developed in partnership with doctors, nutrition experts, scientists and food gourmets to ensure the food is as good and nutritious as possible.

“At Semper we believe that everyone has the right to good food whatever their age. What many people don’t know is that baby food is subjected to more strict regulation and has its own legislation that prohibits the use of sweeteners, colouring agents, and preservatives.

“Semper also has even stricter requirements for baby food with a very low limit on pesticide residues, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. We not only choose the best raw ingredients we also choose what is best for infants. We think that baby food should be safe, nutritious, natural and good,” says Tennefors.

For more information, please contact:

Anne Lindfeldt, Corporate Communications Manager Nordics
+46 (0)70-276 10 35
anne.lindfeldt@semper.se

About Semper AB
The well-known brand Semper still stands for the same high quality as it has done since the company was founded in 1939. Today Semper is the Nordic leading brand within Baby & Toddler Food and Milks and Gluten Free products. Semper has 240 employees in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, with net sales of around SEK 1.5 billion SEK. Since 2006, Semper AB has been part of the Hero Group, an international food company with around 4,000 employees in 19 countries. Read more www.semper.se

About Hero Group
The Hero Group is an international food company focused on branded nutritional food products. The company was founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland, where its headquarters are still located today. Hero's main core product categories of Baby & Toddler Food and Milks, Natural Spreads, and Healthy Snacks are complemented by its activities in Gluten Free products. The Group, which lives by its mission to Delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature, boasts a global footprint and its portfolio consists of many well-known international and local brands. Read more: www.hero-group.ch