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Who is thCentre of Asia: EFKO held a forum in Tashkent

22.11.2024
Who is thCentre of Asia: EFKO held a forum in Tashkent
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Who is thCentre of Asia: EFKO held a forum in Tashkent
EFKO Training Seminar: all about milk fat replacer

EFKO Training Seminar: all about milk fat replacer15.11.2024

Uzbekistan is one of the most unusual republics of the former USSR. Tamerlane once built a huge empire there, and now the country continues to follow its unique path. In November, we held a forum in Tashkent for partners from Central Asia. This is a large region that unites several countries at once — Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. EFKO’s specialists and industry experts discussed with manufacturers how to develop business there, and our technologists proposed innovative solutions.

 

The Central Asian market is one of the most promising. Each country has its own cultural, economic characteristics and its own potential for growth. In 2024, the GDP in this region is $452 billion, an annual growth — 13.5%. The population is also growing, in 2024 it is 80 million people, by 2030 the population is expected to reach 90 million people. As a result, the demand for food products is also increasing. Domestic production volumes are not enough, that is why some part is imported from other countries, including Russia.

 

“We entered the Central Asian market back in 2011,” says Eduard Tsuverkalov, Director of Export Department, Oil and Fat Division, GC EFKO. – The company opened a trading house in Alma-Ata. Since we hadn’t been familiar with the specifics of working here, we stated to expand our presence not so quickly, but gradually/ We increased volumes, displaced many competitors, and now we have a strong presence in the field of ingredients for the confectionery, bakery and dairy industries. Today, we are focused on introducing new products, those are emulsifiers, lecithin, vegetable cream.”

 

How do consumer preferences in this region differ from those in Russia? First of all, sweets are an integral part of the food culture there. They are not only a part of the daily diet, but also a symbol of hospitality. During celebrations, family events, and religious holidays people always have sweets. Flour confectionery products, specifically oriental sweets, are traditional ones.

 

“In regions with a hot climate, special attention should be paid to the heat resistance of products,” says EFKO’s food engineer Luiza Zhuraeva. – The optimal solution for the production of flour confectionery products is confectionery fat Oilprime 2203-32 from the company’s assortment. It contains an antioxidant, so finished products have a better shelf life. And due to good aeration properties, it is possible to achieve a crumbly porous structure of sweets.”

 

At the same time, consumption of chocolate and products with chocolate coating is growing in Central Asian countries. Heat resistance can be increased with cocoa butter improvers.

 

“Cocoa butter improvers help reduce the risk of recrystallization, maintain stable quality, reduce tempering conditions, and thus reduce the load on equipment,” says GC EFKO’s food engineer Natalia Khabarova.

 

The quality of spreads, food product produced under cottage cheese and cheese technology can be stabilized by choosing the right milk fat replacers, emulsifiers and crystallizers.

 

“The problem of spread packaging oiling can be solved by milk fat replacer Ecolact 1403-35,” says our food engineer Viktor Kapranchikov. – In addition, its use can increase the plasticity of spreads. Crystallizer 01 by EFKO allows you to increase the heat resistance of spreads, obtain the optimal product consistency and a uniform structure. It is important for a milk-containing product produced under cottage cheese technology to have a pure fermented milk flavor and odour, and a crumbly structure. Products made under Mozzarella cheese technology should meet a number of requirements at a time: density, grating ability, resistance to caking, melting and stretching. The milk fat replacer Oilblend 1003-36 helps to achieve these results.”

 

Another secret of business development that EFKO’s specialists revealed during the forum is to use food science knowledge. It is important to produce not only high-quality and safe products, but also make them healthier. Domestic, tropical and exotic oils are the basis of our ingredients. Nutritionist Anastasia Kolpakova spoke about how they affect health.

 

“Vegetable oils are the main sources of unsaturated fats, which are not able to adversary affect the concentration of cholesterol and the concentration of low-density lipoproteins. Another advantage is their multi-purpose characteristic, because such products are suitable for vegetarians, as well as for people who, for medical reasons, should reduce consumption of animal fats, for example, patients with diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.”

 

Initially, our company used only domestic liquid oils: sunflower, soybean, rapeseed. In the early 2000s, we decided to obtain expertise in tropical oils — palm, palm kernel, coconut and began to use new methods of oil modification. In addition to deodorization, hydrogenation, interesterification and dry fractionation appeared.

 

“In 2014, exotic oils appeared – shea butter, illipe, sal, which are used for cocoa butter equivalents. For their production we began to use another modification method, i.e. liquid fractionation. Next year, we plan to respond to a new challenge: to become experts for cocoa butter, chocolate masses and confectionery coating. I wish you to complicate your activities in order to remain leaders in your current field of work, – Oleg Kharlanov wished the forum participants. – And EFKO’s specialists will always be nearby and will help you choose the right fat components and implement them in your production. Thank you for choosing us as your supplier!”

 

I would also like to note that this year marks 195 years since sunflower oil was first obtained from sunflower seeds. The oil became one of the key raw materials for our ingredients. Probably, many of you know that this happened in our homeland, Sloboda Alekseyevka, which was then part of the Voronezh province. We follow the traditions established by the Russian peasant Daniil Bokarev.

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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). 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.

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