Smolensk
There is a company in the Smolensk region, which is based on three priorities in the work: customer service, product quality, its final cost
The cooperative “Vaskovsky” firmly holds the blows
The agricultural processing cooperative “Vaskovskiy” went through, like many others, difficult times. In 2019-2022, circumstances of force majeure arose: these are the COVID-19 pandemic and the sanctions imposed. We had to adapt to changes in the dairy market.
– Our cooperative supplies a significant amount of products to budget organizations in Smolensk and the region. In times of coronavirus, many institutions were closed for quarantine measures, so sales fell sharply – by 1.5 times. Now, within the framework of the imposed sanctions, the prices of packaging, lactic ferments, raw materials, spare parts for equipment have increased significantly. This greatly affected the financial result. But the conclusions were drawn, – says Yury Kozlov, chairman of the cooperative, to SmolNarod.
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru New milestones
From 2019, the cooperative began to promote its products on the shelves of federal chains. Local dairy producers were just emerging there and decisive action needed to be taken.
– We delved into a new area, we had to delve into unusual requirements for local manufacturers. All the employees of the company have done a colossal job. And most importantly, we figured out where Vaskovo dairy should appear. We worked out the assortment that was to be distributed on the shelves of federal chains – for the buyer from Smolensk. This is recognizable by any milk, kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese and fermented baked milk. Later, our butter also appeared, ”recalls Andrei Skuratov, director of the Vaskovo trading house.
The requirement of the networks is the unconditional quality of the goods, compliance with the requirements of GOST, legislation, compliance with all the clauses of the contract, the violation of which may lead to fines of millions of dollars and suspension of the enterprise .
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru – The new sales market has not become something intimidating for us, because we mainly supply products for children’s nutrition to schools and kindergartens in the region . For us, taking care of the buyer and the consumer is a top priority. The products are constantly tested in our laboratory. We guarantee an honest composition, we only use natural raw materials. Quality is regulated by the requirements of GOSTs, from which it is forbidden to deviate. So it was, is and will be – the executive director of the cooperative, Irina Babushanova, shared with SmolNarod.
State support
The cooperative actively cooperates with the regional administration and the services concerned, participates in the reflection on all the support measures so that they become targeted and effective in the long term. “Vaskovsky” uses the full range of services of the Agricultural Advisory Center and the “My Business” support center.
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru – The result of interaction with the regional administration is not long in coming. Subsidies and other aid received go to the development of the company. All obligations we assume under the agreements are fulfilled. This includes an increase in the average wage level, an increase in the processing of raw materials and the attraction of new members to the cooperative. Today there are more than ten, – says Yuri Kozlov.
“Anything Your Heart Desires”
The main activity of the cooperative is the production of dairy products, as well as the wholesale and retail trade of dairy products. The company produces the full range of whole milk and curd products. Now the assortment consists of 20 items. It is milk of all types of fat, sour cream, kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt, “snow”, cottage cheese and butter.
- You can buy whatever you want. The market wants – “Vaskovo” adapts. There is a demand from end buyers, we are ready to hear from the residents of Smolensk. And not just in terms of the variety of product names, but also in packaging. What the consumer wants, we do. Flexibility is our fundamental difference. We stay honest, although networkers dictate their own rules. For example, we have an “honest liter” of milk, “an honest kilogram” of kefir. That is, we do not reduce packaging, like many other producers of raw materials, explains Andrey Skuratov.
But milk should smell like milk. We forget the taste of natural products! The trend is that consumers need milk to stay refrigerated for months. But “Vaskovo” cannot and does not intend to depart from naturalness. The shelf life of our products is short – from five to seven days, – says Yuri Kozlov.
“From Cow to Counter”
Irina Babushanova, executive director of the cooperative, explains five reasons why the people of Smolensk should choose Vaskovo products:
Our products come from local raw milk producers. Only whole cow’s milk is used as raw material. Basically, from the cow to the counter. We adhere to proven traditional technologies according to GOST, developed in Soviet times. Our products are natural, so our implementation time is short, but the health benefits are enormous. We are local producers, taxes go to the local budget, which allows the development of the Smolensk region. Vaskovo is a company open to everyone. Anyone who wishes, after agreement and in accordance with applicable sanitary rules, can visit our production, located in the village of Vaskovo, Pochinkovsky district, and see with their own eyes how the processing process is carried out.
The selection of suppliers is a guarantee of quality
In the milk processing industry, a lot depends on the farmers, who are responsible for the quality of the original product. How are the suppliers selected?
- The quality of raw materials is an issue that is and always will be. It all depends on the responsibility and diligence of the supplier. Before starting to work with a potential new partner, we organize a visit to their home. The main objectives are to inspect the farm for cleanliness and animal welfare. We are also interested in the milk cooling process. A prerequisite is full compliance with veterinary indicators. By the way, this moment is reflected in the state veterinary system “Mercury”, says Irina Babushanova.
It should be noted that in the laboratory of the Vaskov Cooperative, milk is examined according to physical and chemical parameters. And only after positive results he proceeds to treatment. In addition, the company has a special commission on product quality, which evaluates each batch – according to organoleptic indicators.
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru Vaskovo products are also constantly tested in certified laboratories in Smolensk, where they check microbiological indicators, the content of antibiotics, pesticides and radionuclides.
Modern production level
In the 80s of the last century, the Vaskovo farm was a “daughter” of Smolenskenergo, in 2002 Muscovites bought the company, but in 2012 a new life began: the Vaskovskiy SPPK appeared. Members of the cooperative are agricultural producers, personal subsidiary farms, farmers.
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru Over the years, the cooperative has developed dynamically. The growth of milk production accelerated from year to year and in 2018 amounted to 950 tons of finished products.
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru At the same time, the cooperative received a regional subsidy in the amount of 16 million rubles, and also invested its own funds – about 10 million rubles – in the modernization of the dairy . The volume of whole milk processing has doubled.
“We have improved the quality of our products and started using energy-saving technologies. This project brought the cooperative to a new, more modern level of production, made it possible to double the number of employees – up to 28 people, as well as expand sales markets and triple the proceeds from the sale of products . The development of the cooperative according to new standards is our top priority, summarizes Yury Kozlov.
Currently, the “milk” of “Vaskovo” is on everyone’s lips. Products are a permanent participant of quality fairs, exhibitions and competitions of various levels. There are many prizes in the company’s “piggy bank”.
Photo: pochinok.admin-smolensk.ru Distribution points
At present, the products are supplied to federal distribution chains “Magnit”. These are 70 outlets – in Smolensk itself, 60 outlets – in the region. Products can be found on the shelves of stores in Yartsevo, Safonov, Dorogobuzh, Verkhnedneprovsky, Kardymov, Pochinka, Roslavl, Desnogorsk.
The brand’s products can also be purchased in the Liniya and Lenta hypermarkets, in the regional distribution chains Romanishin, Lavash, DSK, as well as in the city and region’s slipper stores (about 30 in operation).
Products are supplied to kindergartens, schools, boarding schools, gymnasiums in Smolensk, Yartsevo, Pochinok, Roslavl and Desnogorsk.
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