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Independence Day: EFKO replaces imports of food ingredients

22.04.2025
Independence Day: EFKO replaces imports of food ingredients
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Independence Day: EFKO replaces imports of food ingredients
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Emulsifiers, stabilizers, lecithins, egg products — these ingredients are used in almost all sectors of the food industry. Since 2020, this market has been constantly facing challenges such as sanctions, the leaving of foreign suppliers, logistical failures and high dependence on imports. What future awaits the market and how to achieve sovereignty? EFKO’s Oil and Fat Division held an inter-industry seminar “Food Ingredients”, where it spoke about the solutions that the company can offer today.

 

The Russian food ingredients market is estimated at 3.5 billion US dollars and grows by 6-7% annually. It includes flavors, stabilizers, preservatives, coloring agents, complex food additives, sweeteners and other ingredients.

 

Despite the crisis of recent years, today there are all opportunities for an increase in demand for food ingredients. In the bakery industry, the snack segment is growing, as well as the “nearby home” bakery segment. Confectionery production is gaining momentum due to the development of export supplies. As for the dairy industry there is a production increase in the ice cream segment. And if we look at the sweet carbonated sugar-free drinks area in the period from 2019 its increase was almost 40%, which also promote the demand for sugar alternatives.

 

How to achieve independence from imported ingredients? There is only one solution which is to focus on own developments.

 

“Today we already offer our partners a wide range of food ingredients: emulsifiers, stabilizers, crystallizers, egg products, lecithins, soybean products, enzymes, sweet protein and whipping pastes,” said Alexey Dikarev, Director of Food Ingredients for the Oil and Fat Division of EFKO Group.

 

In 2024, EFKO launched a plant for functional proteins and dietary fiber.

 

Another group of ingredients that the domestic market is in desperate need is products of deeply processed chicken eggs of full cycle. Egg products are used primarily in the meat and confectionery industries, as well as for the production of mayonnaise and sauces.

 

“EFKO’s range includes egg white powder, egg yolk powder, and liquid melange,” shared technologist Elena Strukova. “Such products have a lot of advantages. First of all, they are easy to use which means that such ingredients need less time to be prepared. It let us use our production capacity in the most efficient way. Then they can increase shelf life, it is very important for public catering.”

 

It is important not only to replace positions that were initially dependent on imports, but also to improve those that are already on the domestic market. During the seminar, the company’s technologist Svetlana Babicheva spoke about an ingredient for the bakery market, whipping paste.

 

“Whipping paste is a complex additive for biscuits, which allows the manufacturer to achieve the maximum volume of products, a uniform porosity, and at the same to time reduce the cost prise.”

 

During the tasting, the participants tried tender biscuits made with whipping paste, as well as sweet protein candies with hazelnut paste, ripe raspberries and cherries and rum. Sweet protein is one of the key innovations in the food industry. It is a new and safe alternative to sugar. The ingredient has already been certified in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union, it has been proved that the product is safe and meets all the requirements for food ingredients.

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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).

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.

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.

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.

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