Own French fries: a unique workshop for Belarus has been opened in Tolochin
And here is another housewarming: the first workshop in Belarus for the production of frozen french fries semi-finished products has been commissioned. The solemn opening ceremony of the new industrial site was attended by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin, the President's Aide for the Vitebsk Region Anatoly Linevich, and other guests.
– This is a unique, export-oriented production, – noted Alexander Subbotin. – A project with no analogues not only in the country but also in the nearest abroad. May such an effective innovative initiative become an example for others.
Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Gusakov, congratulating the plant workers on the completion of the joint project, emphasized:
– With the participation of the National Academy of Sciences, over 100 innovative production facilities have already been created in the country in recent years. This is a whole chain of effective and competitive enterprises and unique technologies that work for the benefit of the future of our native Belarus.
… The construction of a state-of-the-art workshop, which will produce from 3.6 to 10 thousand tons of french fries annually, took over three years. It was carried out in accordance with the State Program of Innovative Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020. The project was financed from various sources, including the republican and regional innovation funds. The plant used credit resources from the Development Bank, bonds from Belgazprombank, as well as a significant portion of its own funds. The high-performance unit was equipped with Dutch equipment, and 25 new jobs were created here.
What will the new workshop bring to the economy of the Tolochin Cannery in particular and the country as a whole? The production of french fries is a very popular import substitution and export-oriented direction today. Judge for yourself: over 4 thousand tons of frozen french fries are imported into Belarus annually. Now the enterprise will cover the lion's share of these needs and will be able to export about 50 percent of its production. Not raw materials in the form of ordinary potatoes, as it was before, but a finished semi-finished product with high added value. The benefit is obvious. As is the interest from potential partners. Currently, for example, negotiations are underway with representatives of McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain. The cooperation promises to be promising and mutually beneficial.
As a result, the enterprise will be able to eliminate seasonal problems with potato sales. Sometimes they occur, as the Tolochin region receives the largest harvest in the country. Here is the largest potato plantation in the country – 900 hectares. It is planned to expand it to a thousand hectares. By the way, the gross harvest of the past season was over 32 thousand tons.
The uniqueness of RUP "Tolochinsky Cannery" lies in its ability to create a complete integration complex. It includes cycles such as the production, storage, processing, and sale of potatoes, fruits, berries, and products derived from them.
Here are just a few significant events from the chronicle of recent years: a fruit storage facility for 2.4 thousand tons with a fruit sorting line and a container storage shed were built on the territory of the industrial garden's production base. Two potato storage facilities for 12 thousand tons each were erected, and a potato processing workshop with a washing, dry cleaning, and packaging line was established. A juice bottling workshop was commissioned. A new wine bottling line with a capacity of 6 thousand bottles per hour was purchased and installed. A private apiary with 110 bee colonies was created and is successfully operating…
The plans for the future are also impressive. The enterprise confidently undertakes the implementation of the boldest projects. The ultimate goal is to create a perfect model of unique multi-vector production with maximum raw material processing depth.
So, the next steps. In the near future, the construction of a modern potato storage facility for 20 thousand tons will begin. It will provide special conditions – optimal for preserving tubers intended for processing into fries. It is planned to significantly expand refrigeration capacity for storing frozen vegetables and berries. Also in the plans is the construction of a modular technological complex for microclonal propagation of potatoes, fruit, and berry crops. The plant workers are already purchasing equipment for a drip irrigation system for a 120-hectare garden area, and are considering the construction of another fruit storage facility for 3 thousand tons and the reconstruction of the potato starch production workshop…
This large-scale modernization program will undoubtedly help the enterprise to expand its facilities, increase production volumes, and improve operational efficiency in the future. It is noteworthy that about 430 people work here today, with an average salary of over 1.5 thousand rubles and a sales profitability of 10.5 percent. The french fry production shop, which has no analogues in the country, marks a new and very promising stage in the history of the plant's development, as noted during the opening ceremony.