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The Sweet Future Starts Today: EFKO Seminar for Confectioners

27.12.2024
The Sweet Future Starts Today: EFKO Seminar for Confectioners
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Sweets of the future: "EFKO-ART" started production of sweets with sweet protein

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Sweets remain the most affordable and delicious source of good mood. Even difficulties with the supply of cocoa products did not somehow affect the growth of their consumption. Exports from Russia grew by 20% which is only based on the results of five months of 2024. Technologies are changing, the ingredient market is also changing. Experts believe that the confectionery production is entering a new era. What awaits the industry in the coming years? What solutions do we have for confectioners? Specialists of the Oil and Fat Division of EFKO summarized the results of the year at the traditional December seminar for clients and partners.

 

Today, the market is saturated, those are candies, chocolate, wafers, marshmallows, cookies and gingerbread – each segment has a wide range of sweets. The only way to capture and keep the consumer’s attention is to constantly create new tastes, combinations and products. This trend is observed in the development strategy of ingredient manufacturers.

 

Fats are the basis of almost any confectionery product structure. This year, we launched a new promising direction, which we plan to actively develop in 2025. This direction is compositions of fats with shea butter for fillings, chocolate and chocolate coating. This is an ideal technological solution, which in particular help reduce the risk of fat migration to the product surface, causing slow-down of the “blooming” effect.


 
“One of our new products is the confectionery fat “Ecomix 4003-30”. High production technologies and the unique composition of exotic shea butter let us obtain an optimal melting profile followed by releasing the taste and aroma of the product,” commented technologist Evgeniya Potekina. “If you want to deliver a milky or nutty taste, bring out cocoa product flavor, this ingredient is what you need. This confectionery fat is perfectly compatible with other components of confectionery products, which helps technologists to realize any and all of their ideas.”
 
Another significant trend for EFKO specialists is the development of a line of cocoa butter improvers for chocolate and coatings. These ingredients will ensure the thermal stability of the product during the summer period, maintaining an ideal appearance and other consumer properties. The chocolate will keep its shape without melting in your hands even in hot weather.
 
Health care is the main trend in the confectionery industry for the coming years. Creating healthy sweets is a challenge for the confectionery industry. And there is a solution to this challenge. The company’s technologists are developing sugar-free formulations with a sweet-tasting protein of brazzein.
 
In November of this year GC EFKO announced the results of the world’s first clinical study of sweet protein. Previously, sweet protein was certified in the EAEU countries, which confirmed its suitability for food products. However, it was important for the technologists to make sure that the ingredient was food-safe for long-term human consumption.
 
60 people (28 men and 32 women) participated in clinical and laboratory studies. According the results there were no negative changes in the integral health score of the participants before and after using the sweet protein in food. In addition, the use of the ingredient in the product content among the volunteers did not show any allergic reactions and did not cause a negative psycho-emotional response.
 
As Alena Surkova, Director of the Confectionery Industry of the Oil and Fat Division of EFKO Group, notes: “Sweet protein intake does not increase blood glucose levels and does not cause an insulin response. This new ingredient can change the usual ideas about sweets and makes them healthier.”
 
The medical community has already tried such sweets. The famous “Erisman Readings” and an All-Russian scientific congress with international participation, dedicated to new achievements in nutrition and food hygiene took place recently. The guests of the event were equally of the opinion that sweets with sweet protein are as tasty as with regular sugar.
 
Now representatives of the largest confectionery companies have had a chance to appreciate the new products. Technologists from KDV Group LLC, United Confectioners Company Ltd., Kolomensky BKK CJSC, Nevsky Konditer LLC, and Confectionery Factory Pobeda LLC tasted milk and dark chocolate, ice cream with sweet protein during at the EFKO seminar. The guests noted the absence of foreign flavors and the full taste delivery. “The products are exactly what we expect!” — the technologists shared. Understanding that such sweets are also beneficial inspires manufacturers to continue playing with formulations and new components. We are looking forward to seeing the new products on store shelves!

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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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