The History of Nutricia Deva a.s.

The foundation of the company dates back to 1950 when manufacturing of fruit infant food in cans began. Another important year was 1957, when the trademark ‘DEVA’ was registered.

In 1968, the manufacturing program was extended to meat-vegetable soup and meal production, and five years later to vegetable meal production. In 2003, the manufacturing of these products ceased and they were transferred to Nutricia Polska - Sp.z.o.o. in the town of Opole in Poland.

In 1990, after the state-owned enterprise Konzervárny a lihovary (KOLI) Nové Město nad Metují (DEVA was a part of it at that time) became independent, there was a massive extension to the manufacturing range. The original 15 types were increased to more than 40 types of infant and baby food. Manufacturing of special products suitable for diabetics also began in the plant.

In 1992, the state-owned enterprise KOLI was included in the first wave of newly privatized companies. The subsidiary company Nutricia Deva a.s. was founded in 1995. KOLI Holding joint-stock company, which emerged from the privatization, was the owner of 100% of shares, and in June 1995 they sold 50% of the shares of Nutricia Deva, a.s. to Dutch company Nutricia.

In 1997, the company was certified with ISO 9001 standard.

In 1998, a new manufacturing line was installed which uses glass packaging with ‘Twist Off’ lids.

In summer 1999, the image of manufactured products improved significantly. The company implemented new lighter jars with PT (Press Twist) lids.

In May 2001, the Dutch company NUTRITION LOGISTIC B.V. purchased the remaining 50% of shares of Nutricia Deva a.s. from the administrator after KOLI Holding a.s went bankrupt. This gave them 100% control over NUMICO.

In 2003, NUMICO decided to restructure its manufacturing plants in Europe. This resulted in the closure of plants in Wells (Great Britain) and Beelitz (Germany) and the transfer of their manufacturing operations to Nové Město nad Metují and Opole (Poland). Since then the plant has been manufacturing primarily pasteurized products, and after transferring the production from Wells and Beelitz, the manufacturing volume has risen to nearly 90 million jars per year. The present capacity of the manufacturing plant is 145 million jars per year.

The company possesses the following certificates: ISO 9001:2001 (1998), HACCP (2006) and Organic-Manufacturing of bio food (2004).