Last week, the family-owned Ukrainian company “Kormotech” has opened a pet food factory in the Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone. About the decision to invest in Kėdainiai FEZ – with Yaroslav Alokhin, PR representative.
Why did you choose the Kėdainiai FEZ for your investments?
We have chosen to invest in Lithuania, Kėdainiai Free Economical Zone because on the one hand there are geographical advantages for our further expansion in the European market, on the other hand, it offers the most attractive conditions for doing business, in particular, tax breaks for 10 years.
How the Covid-19 pandemic influenced your business over the world?
The epidemic did not get in the way of our growth. Since the beginning of 2020, Kormotech sales have grown by 31% in US dollars. Under quarantine, the company’s plants continue to operate in compliance with all sanitary and epidemiological norms, in accordance with requirements of the Ukrainian government.
Following the results of four months 2020, our exports abroad account for 18% of the total volume of manufactured products. In 2019, this figure was 13%
Please specify the newest production technology which is/are installed in your plant. What are the main features? Why are they better than others?
The plant is equipped with Danish and German equipment and automated to the limit. Ukrainian experts from Kormotech, American consultants and Lithuanian engineers are providing guidance for technological adjustment.
How many modern technologies lines do you have in your plant?
In the beginning, all our needs will be covered by one modern production line.
What are the production capacities of a new plant? How many tones per month?
The capacity of Kormotech Lithuanian plant is 20,000 tons of wet pet food per year.
How many specialists will work in your new plant?
The new factory will provide about 70 working places.
What are the most important advantages of the pet food you produce?
We produce pet food under our own brands and private label, which are distributed in 31 countries around the world.
Our brands portfolio includes over 500 SKU represented in four brands and cover all client’s needs: super-premium diets Optimeal with non-grain dry meals and wet feeds, premium brand Club 4 Paws with dry and wet food, along with a variety of snacks, standard dogs food HAV! TM and cats food MYAU! TM.
Each product was developed using a unique technology by pet nutrition specialists in the US and Europe, under the control of Ukrainian technologists, veterinarians and regulatory authorities.
We control the quality and preservation of the nutritional properties of our products at 60 points at all stages of their manufacturing. That is why our products meet the highest European standards of quality in accordance with ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000.
What are your ambitions in the Lithuanian market? What percentage of your production are you planning to sell in Lithuania? In Europe?
It is expected that the plant in Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone, will be able to increase wet petfood production capacity. It will bring logistical benefits in European countries for our clients. The ambitious goal is to be among the top 50 companies of this industry by 2023.
We closely work with engineering industry, the top management of local municipalities as well as with all the main governmental institutions and ministries. The investors and business innitiatives are highly supported and very welcome!