RU

It will be hot: EFKO products conquer Africa

08.06.2023
It will be hot: EFKO products conquer Africa
Previous
It will be hot: EFKO products conquer Africa
Next
Russia-Africa: EFKO took part in the international forum

Russia-Africa: EFKO took part in the international forum31.07.2023

Welcome to China: EFKO products in China

Welcome to China: EFKO products in China26.05.2023

Africa is one of the most promising regions for export. This summer, the oil and fat division of EFKO Group presented its products at the largest food exhibition on the continent - Food & Beverage West Africa 2023, and also took part in the Shea Butter Alliance Global Conference.

Wild. Hot. Mysterious. With dark jungle, lions and tigers. At all times, she beckoned and frightened at the same time. Africa! 

The population in this region is constantly growing, due to which the consumption of confectionery and bakery products is also growing. Many countries on the continent are highly dependent on imports and purchase a wide range of ingredients. In June, the oil and fat division presented its products at the largest food exhibition Food&Beverage West Africa 2023 in Nigeria. The Russian exposition was presented by 11 companies - such a large number of domestic producers gathered in Lagos for the first time.

EFKO Group of Companies supplies specialized fats and margarines to almost 20 countries around the world, - said Dmitry Puzanov, head of export sales of the division. – The Nigerian market, as well as the whole of West Africa, is still new for our company in terms of the sales market. It was necessary to evaluate the needs of consumers and present our products. – Our foreign colleagues showed the greatest interest in margarines, frying oils and confectionery fats. We have already managed to conclude agreements with partners - these agreements will help us strengthen our positions.” 

Africa for us is not only a market for products, but also a region in which we purchase raw materials for premium fats and cocoa butter alternatives.

“We have been working with the Nigerian market of raw material suppliers for more than three years, we already have strong established ties, ” says Anna Lebedenko, Deputy Director of the Oil and Fat Division for Cocoa Butter Equivalents. – Before that, we carried out a lot of preparatory work to study the trade features of the country, we “tried on” for a long time, looking for possible points of contact. This exhibition is one of the largest in the country, which means it is a great opportunity to strengthen existing trade relations and find new opportunities. Our main goal is to build long-term relationships in the field of a stable supply chain for exotic raw materials.

One of the types of such raw materials is shea nuts. Therefore, the delegation of the oil and fat division went to another point on the continent - Côte d'Ivoire - and took part in the conference of the global shea butter alliance.

The alliance brings together farmers, traders, buyers and non-profit organizations in the African Shea market. This is a “guarantee” that producers honestly fulfill their obligations: they preserve shea trees and respect the rights of workers.

This year there were more than 200 participants at the conference.

We discussed the supply chains of shea nuts, the state policy in the field of their production. We listened to the reports of the Ministry of Agriculture of Côte d'Ivoire. We have held more than 50 meetings and have already received contacts of potential partners.

EFKO Group of Companies has established its place among the world's largest buyers and processors of shea nuts, - summed up Anna Lebedenko. - "trying on", looking for possible points of contact.

We continue to establish contacts with the African continent. On July 27-28, the oil and fat division of EFKO Group of Companies will take part in a unique event in relations between Russia and Afghanistan riki, an economic and humanitarian forum to be held as part of the second Russia-Africa Summit.

Attach a file (pdf, doc or jpeg only)

* - Required fields.

for

Previously published reports:

section-image
section-image

section-image
section-image

section-image
section-image

Dear partners!

In order to improve EFKO products and quality of service, as well as to better meet your needs, we ask you to answer a few questions.

In the Alekseevskaya Sloboda of the Belgorod province, where in the late 1820s, sunflower oil was produced for the first time in the Russian Empire, and the first oil mill in Russia was built.

During the years of the First World War, and then the Civil War, production was completely stopped. The restoration of the plant began only in 1923. The main focus of its work remained the processing of coriander and anise. In 1936, the second oil extraction plant in all of Russia was built in Alekseevka. Later, both enterprises were merged into one of the largest essential oil extraction complexes in the Soviet Union.

During the Great Patriotic War, the complex was almost destroyed. Restoration work, which began in 1943, continued until the end of 1948. In the post-war period, comprehensive reconstruction was carried out on many sections using the latest technological advancements. By the 1970s, the Alekseevsky essential oil extraction complex produced up to 80% of the world's coriander oil. For its achievements in production development, the development and implementation of advanced technology, by decree of August 14, 1972, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR awarded the plant the Order of the Badge of Honor.

Unfortunately, in the 1990s, the enterprise that brought fame and wealth to the people of Alekseevka fell into decline and practically collapsed. The revival of the enterprise began in 1994 with the arrival of a new team and the creation of the EFCO Group.

The enterprise underwent large-scale modernization of production and established a new management system. The company decided to return to its roots and resume the production of sunflower oil. Later, EFCO expanded the range and volume of products.

In 2002, a new business direction was opened, and the most modern plant for the production of specialized fats and margarines for the food industry, EFCO Food Ingredients, was launched in the city of Alekseevka, Belgorod region. A scientific and production laboratory was established at the plant, equipped to control product quality at all stages of production and conduct in-depth scientific research.

In 2002–2003, EFCO technologists mastered the most environmentally friendly process of vegetable oil processing – the 'dry' fractionation method, applied the technology of physical refining of oils and fats, and managed to create Russia's first cocoa butter substitute 'Ecolad,' milk fat substitute 'Ecolact,' solid confectionery fat 'Ekond,' soft confectionery fat 'Ekonfe,' universal margarines 'Ecouniversal,' frying shortenings 'Ecofri,' and the first domestic fats with minimal trans-isomers content – confectionery fats 'Econat.'

In 2005, the R&D center of the fats and oils division was created based on EFCO Food Ingredients, consisting of the Applied Research Center and the Pilot Plant Department. The center’s specialists are engaged in developing and testing fat products for healthy eating lines and innovative recipes, taking into account the needs of manufacturers.

In 2006, the company was the first in Russia to successfully pass an audit for compliance with the quality and safety requirements of the BRC (Global Standard for Food Safety) and the International Food Standard (IFS). Is this information relevant?

In 2008, the second plant for the production of specialized fats and margarines was launched in the port of Taman in the Krasnodar Territory, and the only deep-water sea terminal for food cargo in Russia was built.

The following year, the plant successfully passed certification for compliance with the quality and safety requirements of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the International Food Standard (IFS). International auditors awarded the company the highest compliance level – Grade AA. Is this information relevant?

In 2014, the company’s technologists created the first domestic equivalent of cocoa butter.

In 2015, the EFCO Group launched a project to create a unique fats and oils cluster in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Thanks to production modernization and the transfer of global technologies, the production of specialized fats and margarines meeting the highest international standards was established in a short time.

In 2016, EFCO opened its fourth site for the production of specialized fats and margarines at the Evdakovsky fats and oils plant in the Voronezh region.

In 2021, production capacity at the Taman port facility was increased – launching the world's first 'million-ton plant' for the production of specialized fats and margarines. Do we need this?

In 2023, the company launched the only shea nut processing plant in Russia.

Thanks to R&D and significant investments by domestic producers in developing their own infrastructure, primarily by EFCO, the share of imported producers in the Russian food ingredients market has decreased from 49% to 9% over the past 15 years and continues to decline.

Almost 200 years later, Alekseevka remains the largest center for vegetable oil processing in the country.

Fill out the form and our manager will contact you!

Attach a file (pdf, doc or jpeg only)

* - Required fields.