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DUNI GROUP
Growth and expansion in a
changing industry
In 2023 Duni Group recovered from the pandemic. The Group remains the market
leader in napkin and tablecloth manufacturing and is expanding in the takeaway
packaging segment. Focusing on innovation and circular solutions, Duni Group wants
to be the driving force for sustainable development in the HoReCa industry.
The international player Duni Group has two business areas:
Dining Solutions, with products for table settings, and Food
Packaging Solutions, with packaging for food, including
takeaways. The Group is in a stable position, with two complementary
business areas and a uniquely diversified product portfolio, making
it resilient to economic downturns and changes in the business
environment. After a few stormy years during the pandemic, Duni Group
can now focus once again on increased growth.
“It’s been a fantastic year,” says Robert Dackeskog, President and
CEO of Duni Group. “Since more people are choosing to eat out after
the pandemic, this has resulted in growth and profitability for Duni
Group in 2023. In the third and fourth quarters, the market started to
return to normal, and towards the end of the year, we were in line with
our target margin of ten percent.”
FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY-ORIENTED GOALS
In line with its sustainability goals – to become circular on a large
scale, have net-zero climate emissions in its own operations and
become a leader in sustainability in its industry by 2030 – the Group
has achieved several good results during the year, according to Robert
Dackeskog.
“Our Science Based Targets have been approved - an important
milestone in our sustainability efforts,” he says. “We’ve reduced our
CO2 emissions, invested in solar panels and charging points in several
locations and invested in our paper mill to further reduce energy
consumption. Sustainability is integral to our business, as evidenced
by our excellent EcoVadis score, which puts us in the top three
percent of our industry. I’m incredibly proud of the progress the entire now also focusing on the Asian market, according to Robert Dackeskog.
organization has made in the area of sustainability. It requires focus,
and we have that!”
Duni Group places great emphasis on internal training in leadership
and sustainability. Through its digital training platforms, the entire
Group will play a part in developing sustainability efforts.
SINGLE-USE AND REUSABLE SOLUTIONS IN SYMBIOSIS
Although the Group’s business concept is based on manufacturing
single-use products, Duni Group is convinced that a combination of
single-use and reusable products is needed in the market, as the most
sustainable option differs in each given situation. As the number of
legal requirements and directives for single-use items increases, Duni
Group must, for example, enable its products to be collected and
reused. For this reason, the Group is investing both internally and
externally in innovative and circular system solutions.
“We depend on the availability of collection points where our
products can be composted, recycled or reused,” says Robert
Dackeskog. “In Australia, we’re working with Compost Connect to link
up business and the community. This year in Sweden, Duni Group has
been testing and developing Idun, a system for reusing serving ware for
restaurants. More needs to be done! That’s why the international and
national initiatives for circular standards are extremely important.”
PROMOTING SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
In the area of social sustainability, Duni Group launched in 2023 the
UNMO innovation project, a digital platform and social network for
those working in the restaurant industry.
“There’s been a major skills shortage in the sector since the
pandemic,” says Robert Dackeskog. “The purpose of UNMO is to
provide restaurant owners, chefs and catering staff with a common
recruitment platform.”
For several years, Duni Group has been working on diversity and
inclusion in the labor market through the Mitt Livs Chans mentorship
program provided by the organization Mitt Liv. In 2023 the Group
launched a partnership with TENT, which works to integrate refugees
in the labor market. A Diversity Inclusion Board was also set up during
the year to bring together the internal initiatives and training that the
Duni Group undertakes in this area.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION AND GROWTH
Duni Group’s solid financial position lays the foundations for acting on
long-term, profitable growth opportunities. During the year, the Group
launched products such as Bio Dunisoft® – the napkin with a fossil-
free binder. Duni Group has expanded into the large event category,
supplying several festivals in Sweden and internationally. The Group is
“The middle class in Southeast Asia is growing, and more people can
afford to eat out,” he says. “This is an expansive market for us, and
we’ve expanded our manufacturing facility in Thailand to meet the
increased demand. Going forward, we’ll continue to focus on growing
in Europe and accelerate our growth journey in the region with, among
others, our partner Five V Capital.”
Duni Group is starting 2024 by continuing to focus sharply on
sustainability. The Group will continue to innovate, invest and focus
to deliver the best sustainability solution for all those occasions when
people come together to cook, serve and enjoy food and drink.
Robert Dackeskog,
President and CEO
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