Investor Presentaiton
8
MESSAGE FROM
THE CEO
GRI 102-14
Ladies and Gentlemen,
2021 was marked by several
challenges for the overall market
and society. The coronavirus
pandemic, the macroeconomic,
political and social context
led people, institutions and
organizations to adapt and adopt
protective measures in line with
their strategies.
Based on its experience of almost
70 years in the market, and
firmly motivated by the belief in
Brazil and in the recovery of the
world economy, M. Dias Branco
implemented important strategic
changes, with the purpose of
continuing its historical path
of growth and profitability,
combined with the maintenance
of the recognized quality of its
products.
As the main hurdles faced in
2021, we highlight the sharp rise
in the costs of our inputs due to
the depreciation of Brazilian Real
against the US Dollar, as well as
the rise in commodity prices.
In the midst of a consumption
scenario impacted by inflation,
natural difficulties are found in
offsetting these increased costs by
passing them on to the consumer.
We know, however, that this is an
atypical and transitory scenario. In
this context, in addition to several
other measures, we adopted
concrete and effective actions to
recover margins and protect cash.
The Company, rated AAA with
stable outlook by Fitch, boasts
financial strength and low
leverage, with emphasis on
the debt lengthening through
the issue of Certificates of
Agribusiness Receivables - CRA,
held early in 2021. This solid
financial structure combined with
an efficient pricing policy and
constant attention to consumer
desires and possibilities have been
of paramount importance for us to
overcome these challenges.
We continue to invest to enable
sustainable mid- and long-term
growth, especially with the launch
of higher value-added products
and marketing investments. This
is the context of the acquisition
of Latinex in 2021. With the
FIT FOOD, Frontera, Smart
and Taste&Co brands, Latinex
reinforces the Company's presence
in healthy food and snacks, in
addition to marking the entry
into the seasonings, sauces and
condiments segments, reflecting
the company's commercial
strategy of growing with
profitability, including products
with high growth and value
potential in its portfolio.
In the pursuit of higher efficiency
and productivity, we have
implemented an important
redesign in our organizational
structure. Some positions have
been eliminated, others created,
and some areas were merged.
All this to foster increased
synergy, safety and agility in the
performance of our activities. In
this context, two new statutory
executive offices were created:
Supply Chain Vice Presidency
and Legal, Governance, Risks and
Compliance Vice-Presidency.
This redesign has yielded
significant savings in our costs
and has also provided us with
a proper structure to continue
growing with a focus on the
needs of our customers and on
the development of the market
in which we operate, as well as
representing a reinforcement of
our unwavering commitment in
seeking to ensure the highest level
of corporate governance in our
operations.
In 2021, we also reviewed M. Dias
Branco's Sustainability Agenda
with a focus on 2030, with
long-term public commitments.
Climate change, diversity,
inclusion and entrepreneurship
of surrounding communities
are topics that received even
more attention. We remained
in the select portfolio of ISE
(B3 Corporate Sustainability
Index), evolved from D to B-in
CDP ranking (Carbon Disclosure
Project), and we made an
unprecedented fundraising in the
Company's history through the
aforementioned issuance of CRA,
which was classified as a "Green
Bond".
In terms of social investment,
among other actions, we donated
more than 4,300 tons of food to
institutions in the surroundings
of our units to food banks. We also
provided aid to the victims of the
rains that hit Bahia at the end of
the year.
We are a Company attentive to
its time. We are present in the
main e-commerce and delivery
platforms of the country and we
remain connected with startups
and disruptive culture through our
Germinar Program.
We recognize our leading position
in the domestic market of pasta
and cookies and crackers and
we are proud of the dedication
and union of our employees and,
supported by our entrepreneurial
spirit, market experience, work
capacity, and innovation, we are
able, always and more and more,
to live up to our positioning of
"Dream, Do, Grow", generating
value to shareholders and the
society.
Thank you.
"
Supported by our
entrepreneurial spirit,
market experience, work
capacity, and innovation, we
are able, always and more
and more, to live up to our
positioning of "Dream, Do,
Grow", generating value to
shareholders
and the society
Ivens Dias Branco Júnior
CEOView entire presentation