The first half of 2026 was marked by a successful harvest season in terms of both quality and quantity, targeted investments in our facilities, and noticeable progress in the reconstruction of our plant in Bismark. Together, we have achieved important milestones and look forward to the coming months with confidence.
After a promising start to the season, the harvest at our Seerau location has progressed very well. As was the case last year, production got off to a smooth start—further evidence of the excellent collaboration among all departments involved. Parsley and chives are currently being processed. In addition, we have already harvested and processed numerous other herbs, including chervil, cilantro, dill, and lovage. We are particularly excited about the launch of our newest product: organic barley grass. With this, we are expanding our product line to include another high-quality organic crop and strengthening our offerings in a sustainable way.
The season continues to be very encouraging at our Hayna location as well. The harvest is progressing as planned and is laying the groundwork for stable and efficient production. As a result, both locations are making a decisive contribution to a positive seasonal performance in the first half of the year.
In addition to our ongoing production operations, we are continuously investing in the further development of our facilities. In Seerau, the extensive roof renovation work and the renovation of the employee break and changing rooms have now been fully completed. At the same time, a new goods receiving area is currently under construction, which will make material flow and production processes even more efficient in the future. In addition, planning for the construction of a new dryer is in full swing. This dryer is modeled after the tried-and-true facility in Hayna. For this reason, both plants are in close communication to make the best use of existing experience and to coordinate future processes as effectively as possible. This is facilitated, among other things, by a staff exchange program between the two plants, in which employees from the Seerau plant travel to Hayna to familiarize themselves with the machinery there.
Reconstruction of our Bismark facility is also making steady progress. The next production line is scheduled to resume operations in mid-July, bringing the total number of available production lines to four. This step marks another important milestone on the path back to our usual level of performance. Special thanks go to our employees, whose tremendous dedication—including working an additional night shift—has played a key role in offsetting production losses and ensuring our ability to deliver at all times. At the same time, reconstruction work continues at full speed. As things stand, the majority of the plant is expected to be restored by the end of the year.
The first half of 2026 clearly demonstrates that we are steadfastly continuing on our chosen path despite the challenges we face. The positive seasonal performance, our ongoing investments in our locations, and the visible progress in Bismark underscore the strength of our team. With great dedication, strong collaboration, and a clear focus on the future, we are creating the best conditions for a promising second half of the year.