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Dr Hans-Peter Wild, Chairman and owner of Germany’s Wild group, has revealed that he plans to launch the company on the stock market in two years’ time. He is now beginning to restructure Wild and its European subsidiaries to prepare them for flotation.

Dr Wild, 66, wants to set the business on a clear course for the years ahead. After reviewing all options, he has decided that going public is the best way to ensure Wild’s continued growth and prosperity.

“My main concern is to secure the future of the company, which my parents founded in 1931 and that I have further developed into a successful international enterprise,” he explained.

Dr Wild’s father, Rudolf Wild, initially focused on producing ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages exclusively from natural raw materials. But the company expanded over the years to include the creation of its own non-alcoholic brands and then the manufacture of food and beverage production equipment.

Dr Wild joined the business in 1974. Today, Wild is one of the most widely known and respected names in the global beverage industry, operating in three fields.

As well as being the world’s biggest privately owned producer of natural ingredients, the company also markets its own select portfolio of beverages, led by the bestselling children’s juice drink Capri-Sun. At the same time, Wild’s process technology division supplies sophisticated equipment for beverage makers, including specialised filling lines for Capri-Sun’s signature flexible pouches. * Long term prospects*

Dr Wild is confident about the group’s long term prospects. “We operate in a good business environment,” he said. “The company has a solid base, excellent employees, and creates value for its customers.”

However, he has called in management consultancy McKinsey to advise on ways that Wild should be streamlined and fine-tuned to prepare it for life as a listed company. Two key changes will be the introduction of an Oracle IT system throughout Europe and the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Wild’s accounts.

“We will actively change and shape the enterprise ourselves, while using the experience of McKinsey to assist in the process,” Dr Wild continued. “Our decision is a clear sign to our employees that we will work together for solid growth.”

He gave no indication of the possible scope of an initial public offering (IPO) of shares in Wild.