Vitebsk fruit and vegetable processing plant increased exports 15 times in the first quarter

April 1, Minsk / Tatyana Lobas - BELTA /. The Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant increased its product exports by 15 times in the first quarter of this year, the enterprise's director Rostislav Goshko told BELTA. Since the beginning of the year, the enterprise has shipped 430 tons of semi-finished puree to Russia worth $202.7 thousand. Compared to the same period last year, supplies have increased 15-fold in value. "In the future, we intend to increase exports also by supplying baby food preserves, which is the company's core product. In particular, an agreement has been concluded for the supply of preserves of the 'Novka' trademark to the Kaliningrad region, with a total value of 0.5 million Russian rubles. The first batch will be shipped in the coming days," the head said. Since 2009, the plant has received 13 Russian-style certificates of conformity for baby food preserves, including purees made from apples and chokeberries with cream, apples and blackcurrants with cream, apple-carrot, apple-blueberry, apple-mango, apple-redcurrant juices, etc. In the near future, the enterprise expects to receive seven more Russian Federation certificates. In addition, work is underway to obtain Ukrainian hygienic registration certificates. Negotiations are underway for supplies to St. Petersburg, Kostroma, as well as to cities in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The possibility of using the distribution network of RUP "Vitebsk Distillery" for joint supplies of products to Kazakhstan is being studied. "It has become profitable for us to sell finished products for export, considering the price situation. Belarusian products are in demand in the markets of neighboring countries, as they have become more affordable compared to local ones," noted Rostislav Goshko. Moreover, prices are not the only factor determining competitiveness in foreign markets. The price-quality ratio has become decisive in increasing the plant's customer base. According to the head, additional competitive advantages in concluding contracts include delivery of products by the manufacturer's transport, and granting discounts and deferred payment terms to foreign counterparties. The enterprise is also increasing its export potential by expanding its product range. In 2009, 36 new types of products were produced, including 18 types of baby food. These include various fruit and berry purees for baby food with cream, fruit and vegetable purees with oatmeal, blueberry and bilberry juices. In the first quarter alone, the number of baby food preserve items increased from 25 to 34, including new vegetable options made from pumpkin and zucchini, for which, according to market research, demand is growing. This year, the plant will install a line for bottling juices in 200 ml Tetra Pak containers. Packaging has already been purchased, and the "Novka-frontik" trademark has been developed. The products will be manufactured under the import substitution program. The range of baby food juices is planned to be expanded, and recipes have been developed. The line is expected to be commissioned in the first half of the year. It is planned to master the production of meat-vegetable baby food preserves. For this purpose, a technological line will be purchased, and commissioning is scheduled for the second half of the year. Meat raw materials will be added to vegetable puree. These will be various combinations: turkey meat with potatoes and cabbage, chicken meat with green peas or cabbage, beef or liver with the addition of vegetable puree. The range of general preserves has been expanded from 29 to 37 items: the plant has mastered the production of solyanka soups, salads, appetizers, and marinades, as well as blended nectars based on apples and tropical fruits. Active exports help maintain high production growth rates. In the first quarter of this year, 768 units of baby food were produced, or 195.8% compared to the same period last year, and 305 units of general-purpose preserves (in Q1 2009, general-purpose preserves were not produced due to the reconstruction of the workshop). The Vitebsk Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant was founded in 1993 and became a joint-stock company in 2008. Currently, 100% of its shares are state-owned. It specializes in the production of fruit and berry and vegetable preserves, including for baby food, semi-finished purees, and aseptically preserved products. The enterprise employs about 200 people.