Family-run, highly innovative and firmly rooted in the region: the BEWITAL Group demonstrates how modern animal nutrition and reliable logistics go hand in hand. During a visit to the company in Südlohn-Oeding, Silke Gorißen, Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Protection in North Rhine-Westphalia, learned about the three business areas of agriculture, pet nutrition and logistics, as well as current developments within the group.
‘Family-run companies such as BEWITAL make an important contribution to regional value creation and innovation in North Rhine-Westphalia,’ emphasised Minister Silke Gorißen during her visit. ‘It is particularly impressive how solutions in the fields of agriculture, pet food and logistics are developed here in the Münsterland region that are also in demand worldwide.’ The BEWITAL Group has been closely rooted in the region for decades and continues to invest in its Münsterland location: in modern machinery, expanded production capacities and future-oriented concepts for animal nutrition. Today, BEWITAL products and solutions can be found in more than 60 countries worldwide – from Europe to Asia to South America. ‘This shows that it is still possible to produce competitively in North Rhine-Westphalia today,’ notes Managing Director Jürgen Petershagen.
Three pillars with a clear focus
The structure of the BEWITAL Group is based on three business areas that complement and strengthen each other. The largest business area is now pet food. Here, the company deliberately seeks to set itself apart from the mass market and serve discerning pet owners. In the second area, BEWITAL agri, the company develops feeding concepts for modern agriculture. These are designed to harmonise animal health, performance and environmental aspects. The third business area is logistics with its own freight forwarding company, westrans, which today transports over 325,000 tonnes of freight annually for a wide range of customers across Europe with a modern fleet of vehicles – thus contributing significantly to the stability of supply chains and security of supply.
Responsibility as an employer and family business
In addition to economic aspects, the visit also focused on BEWITAL's role as an employer and training company. The company has grown significantly in recent years. Bewital now has more than 600 employees in over 100 professions.
Authorities and companies in the same boat
Innovation and speed play a central role at BEWITAL. Dr Jürgen Wigger, Managing Director of the BEWITAL Group, emphasised during a tour of the BEWITAL production facilities that it is crucial for companies to be able to respond flexibly and quickly to new requirements, especially in a dynamic market environment. ‘But if markets change faster than we can adapt due to approvals and certificates, then we will disappear. That is why reliable, swift and transparent cooperation between the authorities and us is really essential.’ At the same time, he expressed his gratitude for the good and constructive cooperation between industry and the authorities in the district of Borken and with Minister Gorißen's ministry. In the subsequent discussion, it became clear that Minister Silke Gorißen and Kai Zwicker, District Administrator of Borken, are aware of the importance of fast and pragmatic approval procedures. ‘We know that innovative companies need framework conditions that keep pace with their development. Ultimately, we are all in the same boat: society, business and the authorities,’ said Silke Gorißen.