Portuguese industrial conglomerate Altri has completed the acquisition of 58.7% of the Swiss sustainable textiles company AeoniQ, which plans to build an industrial unit in Constância. HeiQ Materials AG, Boss, and MAS Holdings remain at the business as co-investors, it was announced on Wednesday.
Fotografia: LinkedIn AeoniQ
In a statement, Altri said that the investment includes a capital increase that “will allow AeoniQ to develop its commercial-scale production capacity, reinforcing its strategic vision of diversification into high-value cellulosic applications with low environmental impact.”
The acquisition will enable the development of the world’s first AeoniQ industrial unit, which will be built at Altri’s fibre plant in Caima, Constância, and is scheduled to start up in 2026 with an initial capacity of 1,750 tons per year. According to reports earlier this month, the investment in the project amounts to 90 million euros.
“In addition to the existing pilot lines in Austria, a pre-industrial unit will be launched in Portugal in early 2026 to accelerate prototypes, partnerships with brands, and capsule collections,” read the statement released on Wednesday.
The business announced that AeoniQ “will benefit from the vertical integration of eucalyptus fib up to the finished yarn, with the subsequent incorporation of recycled raw materials such as cotton textile waste, agricultural waste, and bacterial cellulose derived from food waste.”
AeoniQ is a Swiss cleantech spin-off of HeiQ Materials AG, which has developed “the world’s first biodegradable cellulosic filament with a positive climate impact, designed to replace polyester and nylon.”
“The AeoniQ platform is set to transform the global textile industry by offering a fully circular, plastic-free alternative that replicates the performance of synthetic fibres—without their environmental impacts,” said the business.
Quoted in the statement, the CEO of the Altri group, José Soares de Pina, said that this acquisition, in addition to diversifying the company’s operations, strengthens its presence in the sustainable textile fibres sector, “opening up new avenues of value creation for the group’s different stakeholders.”
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The demerger of Unilever‘s ice cream division, to be named ‘The Magnum Ice Cream Company,’ which had been delayed in recent months by the US government shutdown, will finally go ahead on Saturday, the British group announced.
Reuters
Unilever said in a statement on Friday that the admission of the new entity’s shares to listing and trading in Amsterdam, London, and New York, as well as the commencement of trading… is expected to take place on Monday, December 8.
The longest federal government shutdown in US history, from October 1 to November 12, fully or partially affected many parts of the federal government, including the securities regulator, after weeks without an agreement between Donald Trump‘s Republicans and the Democratic opposition.
Unilever, which had previously aimed to complete the demerger by mid-November, warned in October that the US securities regulator (SEC) was “not in a position to declare effective” the registration of the new company’s shares. However, the group said it was “determined to implement in 2025” the separation of a division that also includes the Ben & Jerry’s and Cornetto brands, and which will have its primary listing in Amsterdam.
“The registration statement” for the shares in the US “became effective on Thursday, December 4,” Unilever said in its statement. Known for Dove soaps, Axe deodorants and Knorr soups, the group reported a slight decline in third-quarter sales at the end of October, but beat market expectations.
Under pressure from investors, including the activist fund Trian of US billionaire Nelson Peltz, to improve performance, the group last year unveiled a strategic plan to focus on 30 power brands. It then announced the demerger of its ice cream division and, to boost margins, launched a cost-saving plan involving 7,500 job cuts, nearly 6% of the workforce. Unilever’s shares on the London Stock Exchange were steady on Friday shortly after the market opened, at 4,429 pence.
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Burberry has named a new chief operating and supply chain officer as well as a new chief customer officer. They’re both key roles at the recovering luxury giant and both are being promoted from within.
Matteo Calonaci becomes chief operating and supply chain officer, moving from his role as senior vice-president of strategy and transformation at the firm.
In his new role, he’ll be oversee supply chain and planning, strategy and transformation, and data and analytics. He succeeds Klaus Bierbrauer, who’s currently Burberry supply chain and industrial officer. Bierbrauer will be leaving the company following its winter show and a transition period.
Matteo Calonaci – Burberry
Meanwhile, Johnattan Leon steps up as chief customer officer. He’s currently currently Burberry’s senior vice-president of commercial and chief of staff. In his new role he’ll be leading Burberry’s customer, client engagement, customer service and retail excellence teams, while also overseeing its digital, outlet and commercial operations.
Both Calonaci and Leon will join the executive committee, reporting to Company CEO Joshua Schulman.
JohnattanLeon – Burberry
Schulman said of the two execs that the appointments “reflect the exceptional talent and leadership we have at Burberry. Both Matteo and Johnattan have been instrumental in strengthening our focus on executional excellence and elevating our customer experience. Their deep understanding of our business, our people, and our customers gives me full confidence that their leadership will help drive [our strategy] Burberry Forward”.
Traditional and occasion wear designer Puneet Gupta has stepped into the world of fine jewellery with the launch of ‘Deco Luméaura,’ a collection designed to blend heritage and contemporary aesthetics while taking inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of Ladakh.
Hints of Ladakh’s heritage can be seen in this sculptural evening bag – Puneet Gupta
“For me, Deco Luméaura is an exploration of transformation- of material, of story, of self,” said Puneet Gupta in a press release. “True luxury isn’t perfect; it is intentional. Every piece is crafted to be lived with and passed on.”
The jewellery collection features cocktail rings, bangles, chokers, necklaces, and statement evening bags made in recycled brass and finished with 24 carat gold. The stones used have been kept natural to highlight their imperfect and unique forms and each piece in the collection has been hammered, polished, and engraved by hand.
An eclectic mix of jewels from the collection – Puneet Gupta
Designed to function as wearable art pieces, the colourful jewellery echoes the geometry of Art Deco while incorporating distinctly South Asian imagery such as camels, butterflies, and tassels. Gupta divides his time between his stores in Hyderabad and Delhi and aims to bring Indian artistry to a global audience while crafting a dialogue between designer and artisan.