Its brands include Yummies and Xixi snacks, Mazola cooking oils, Íssima soups and sauces, Schilo’s hot sauces, Áltima fresh fruit and vegetables, and Zixx and Suavissimo home care products.
Steam to power boilers
Roger Pineda, head of communications, Dinant, told BakeryandSnacks, as part of the United Nation's Clean Development Mechanism project, its oil extraction mill in the Aguán region of Honduras uses biomass to produce clean energy and steam to power its boilers.
The company has palm oil plantations in the Aguán and Lean valleys and operates two palm oil mills and an edible oil refinery near the cities of Tocoa and Tela.
It also has a food processing plant in the Comayagua Valley; a bleach processing plant in Choloma; and a snacks plant in San Pedro Sula.
Pineda said the Bajo Aguán region faces many challenges - poverty, narcotics, organized crime, insecurity and impunity - yet here in the middle of this beautiful rainforest is Dinant's bio mass unit.
CSR award win
Dinant recently received a CSR award (Empressa Socialmente Responsible – or ‘Socially Responsible Business’) for the eighth year running for its commitment to local communities.
Presented by Fundahrse, a not-for-profit organization, the awards promote respect for ethical values, local communities and the environment throughout business.
“To receive this award for the eighth year is a tremendous honor that our 7,200 hard-working staff thoroughly deserve,” added Pineda.
“Dinant’s local Community Grievance Mechanisms are starting to make a real difference to the lives of our neighbors by resolving problems such as preventing dust in dry weather, controlling traffic and constructing access paths across Dinant property.
“We continue to support local Pech, Garífuna and Ladino ethnic communities by purchasing 100% of their Corozo palm harvest and providing technical support to ensure sustainable supplies for the future.”