800 million for ice cream
In a small picturesque village with a population of 3 thousand people in the Central Crimea, the most delicious production in the world an ice cream factory is located. Brand new buildings of the factory "Dobroye" and thematic elements of exterior design are organically located near the slope of the giant mountain Chatyr-Dag, among green almost Alpine landscapes in the valley of the Salgir river.
"There used to be an ice cream factory here, but it hasn't worked since 2005.
In principle, there was a shed and grass up to the waist. On this basis, we decided to resume production, " said Alexander Pokhodenko, General Director of "Dobroye" LLC.
Alexandr and his partners conceived the project in 2015, and managed to purchase the land plot in early 2016. During the transition period in the republic, the processing of documents took quite a long time. Four years after the entrepreneurs started the practical implementation of the project, three production workshops, office buildings, warehouses, and refrigerators with a capacity of more than 11 thousand cubic meters, outbuildings and photo zones for guests of the factory were built on the site. Almost immediately after registration of the site, the company became a resident of the Free Economic Zone, whose benefits and preferences allowed more funds to send directly to the development of the project itself. Today it is about 800 million rubles.
It’s all about the talent
The personnel issue is still acute for new enterprises. Often, when starting a project, investors are forced to train young professionals and employees living nearby from scratch. However, the businessmen of the ice cream factory were very lucky that there was such a production in Dobroye before.
"After the previous enterprise, not only the site remained, but also qualified personnel.
This is a very big plus when there are employees who understand what to do," stressed Alexander Pokhodenko.
The main taste − the head of production was searched for a long time and all over Russia.
Managed to find and persuade a strong technician, technologist Nina Svechkareva from Lipetsk.
"Nina Alekseevna is a talented person who is in her right place. She is so scrupulous in the selection of all ingredients that she constantly makes non-standard orders to companies that produce fruit and berry fillers, glazes, and caramels for us. Everything should be only natural, fresh, made to the highest standard. After all, the quality of the future product depends on each component. As a result, colleagues who produce additives to our ice cream often ask where you can buy it. They know for sure that the quality will be on top," explained the general director of the factory.
Nina Svechkareva has devoted 35 years of her life to ice cream and knows exactly what the perfect ice cream should be.
Natural product at any price
The production of a high-quality product from natural ingredients is a condition that the company's management set for itself at the start. Today, nothing has changed, quality is not sacrificed for the sake of reducing the cost of ingredients, regardless of the state of the market.
"The creation of a natural product, regardless of the raw material cost, we can say, it is our cross, something that we will never leave. Of course, you can work within the technical conditions, which are now many. To the detriment of quality, in this legal way, you can reduce the cost of the product by up to 30%. We work according to GOST with natural components, which makes the cost higher, it reaches 70%. Our ice cream we eat ourselves, eat families and children.
It is not a shame to look people in the eye at our quality, " explained Alexander Pokhodenko.
Strict control of milk and necessary raw materials is carried out by our own laboratory. The company's laboratory is equipped with the latest technology. If the batch of incoming raw materials does not match the input control parameters – the batch is blocked and returned to the supplier.
There are three workshops at the "Dobroye" factory. One produces ice cream, the second a waffle cup. Ice cream is made in different types in a cup, in a cone, popsicles, buckets and briquettes for the whole family. Fruit additives, caramel, icing, boiled condensed milk, vanilla, creme brulee, and nuts-for every taste.
Export opportunities
The production capacity of the ice cream shop is more than 18 tons per day. This amount is enough to provide a high-quality product to Crimeans and consumers from other regions of the Southern Federal District.
"Our main market is Crimea. Here our product can be found in all local networks and in Auchan.
In addition, ice cream "Dobroye" is sold in stores in Rostov region, Krasnodar territory, Moscow and Moscow region. We plan to visit all retail chains of the Southern Federal District," said Petr Nikitin, general director of "Dobroye" LLC.
Another breakthrough for the company was the ability to supply to the People's Republic of China. The first batch of Crimean delicacies went to China in August last year.
"Ice cream "Dobroye" adequately passed through many stages of control, including veterinary, and is now sold on the market of China. With the assistance of the Southern Regional Export Support Center, the team of Dobroye factory prepared all the necessary documents and selected the logistics of deliveries. Transportation under special conditions for the preservation of natural Crimean ice cream takes at least 40 days, " said Natalia Serova, director of the Crimean Export Support Center, who oversaw the process of processing export documents.
Today, work with the Chinese market is already well established, stable supplies delight the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom. It is noteworthy that in China more often produce ice cream from soymilk, so the product from cow's milk has become a real holiday. By the way, the information on the ice cream labels is written in three languages English, Russian and Chinese.
Open production
The factory management is proud of the quality of its product, so it is ready to show the ice cream production process to anyone. For this purpose, three travel companies organize tasting tours at the enterprise. The programs are different, and the purpose of the tour is the same to show how and from what a natural product is made. An informative and delicious excursion attracts not only children and tourists, but also official guests. So, as part of her traditional visit to the Crimea, the general director of the Agency for strategic initiatives Svetlana Chupsheva visited the ice cream factory.
"The business support measures offered by the Republic of Crimea today attract Russian entrepreneurs from other regions. Foreign investors come here with interest, " said General Director of ASI.
Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea — Minister of Finance of the Republic of Crimea Irina Kiviko is also a frequent guest of the company. Important events in the life of the factory-achievements, access to new markets, and the release of new products - all take place with the support of the deputy prime minister.
"Such a high-quality product will always be in demand. Entering the Chinese market is a vivid example of this. The Government of Crimea is constantly working with business, helping to get benefits for the start and development of projects. Factory experience "Dobroye" confirms that our foreign partners are interested in working with us, see this as a win-win," concluded the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Crimea — Minister of Finance Irina Kiviko.