euro adhoc: Valora Holding AG / other / Valora´s implementation of its Valora 4 Success strategy continues apace (E)

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11.02.2009

Valora´s implementation of its Valora 4 Success strategy continues apace:
- conclusion of a general employment contract improves terms of employment for
Valora staff
- logistics facility move successfully completes major milestone

General employment contract improves terms of employment for Valora staff
Valora and the Swiss trade union Syna have today concluded a general contract of
employment. This contract, which will apply retro-actively with effect from
January 1, 2009, covers all Valora employees in Switzerland.

The introduction of this general contract of employment has enabled Valora to
improve the employment terms for its staff in a number of respects. The contract
governs the following important areas:
- contractual minimum wages, graduated according to employees´ qualifications
- entitlement to a 13th monthly wage or salary
- 5 weeks paid holiday for all staff, rising to 6 weeks from age 50
- paid vocational training days for retail staff with a view to upgrading the
retail sector
- adjustment of weekly working times
- increase in night shift pay.

Valora has maintained a regular dialogue with the Syna union for some years now.
Both parties agreed more than a year ago to negotiate a general contract of
employment. Representatives of Valora staff also participated in these
negotiations.

In implementing this general contract of employment, which enshrines and cements
recent enhancements in employment conditions, Valora has given a clear signal of
its commitment to an active partnership between employee and employer.

Logistics facility move successfully completes major milestone
Valora´s new logistics facility in Egerkingen opened its doors in late November,
with beverages as its first category. This was followed by tobacco goods, whose
Egerkingen logistics started 10 days ago. The next steps for these two
categories are the de-commissioning of their legacy systems and the introduction
of modern applications, such as voice-based and light-based picking systems,
which can simultaneously handle orders for several customers. These new systems
will significantly raise the efficiency and quality of logistics operations.

The transfer of Valora´s tobacco logistics to the Egerkingen facility coincided
with the integration of operations previously carried out at its external
logistics sites in Oensingen and Aarburg into the Egerkingen operation. Further
efficiency gains were achieved by modifying the delivery areas covered by the
railheads in Schlieren, Zollikofen and Egerkingen, so that all deliveries to
Switzerland´s "Mittelland" region are covered from Egerkingen, thus further
centralising the group´s logistics and enhancing their performance. The moves
and their implementation phases were all executed smoothly, without any
interruption of services to customers.

"We have now successfully reached a further milestone in this key project.
Despite some initial scepticism, our Egerkingen staff are now very enthusiastic
about the new, streamlined processes." said Thomas Vollmoeller, CEO.

***
Valora Holding AG
Valora is an exchange-listed international trading company devoted to supplying
consumer markets which have high turnover potential. The group´s activities are
clearly focused on those European markets where modern, mobile lifestyles have
become widespread.

- Valora Retail operates a number of standardised retail formats (k kiosk,
avec., presse & buch, Caffè Spettacolo) in heavily frequented locations in
Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg.
- Valora Media supplies press products both to Valora´s own retail outlets and
to third-party customers in Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg.
- Valora Trade is an exclusive distributor of food and non-food branded
fast-moving consumer goods in key European markets.

In 2007, the Valora group generated sales of CHF 2,821 million.

Further information is available on www.valora.com

Further inquiry note:
Media Relations: Tel: +41 58 789 12 01
Stefania Misteli E-mail: [email protected]

or

Investor Relations: Tel: +41 58 789 12 20
Mladen Tomic E-mail: [email protected]

end of announcement euro adhoc
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emitter: Valora Holding AG
Belpstrasse 37
CH-3007 Bern
phone: +41 58 789 11 11
FAX: +41 58 789 11 12
mail: [email protected]
WWW: www.valora.com
sector: Retail
ISIN: CH0002088976
indexes:
stockmarkets: official market: SWX Swiss Exchange, official dealing: BX Berne
eXchange
language: English

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