Frutica is a well-known name in Ukraine’s high-potential agriculture sector. The company was founded in 2005 to produce berries and has steadily expanded its operations and product portfolio ever since. Today, Frutica not only grows strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and rare berries like stevia and rumumbura; it also transforms its crops into high-quality food products and freezes and distributes its fruits in local and international markets. Frutica’s main crop is strawberries, of which it produces around 500 tonnes per year and freezes around 300 tonnes.
Anatolij Kljuchko, co-founder, explains, “My partner Martin Haller and I launched Frutica and our farm operation, Agrofrutica. Then we created Galprost to handle freezing, storing and exporting a portion of our crops. Frutica, which handles distribution, is the parent company. I have a 40% share in the enterprise and oversee Agrofrutica and Galprost, handling production and processing, while Martin Haller has a 60% share and oversees sales, distribution and financing.” The partnership has proven to be an outstanding success.
The partners have reinvested in the company to expand their product lines and implement cutting-edge new technologies. One innovative new product is based on frozen berries from which water has been extracted using Belgian equipment. “This system allows us to sell our products in Europe as well as Ukraine,” Anatolij Kljuchko points out. Frutica also supplies major food enterprises like Danone (France), Iprona (Italy) and Agrana (Ukraine). Around 80% of Frutica’s production is exported, including to China, and the company plans to enter the US market.
Quality and food security
Frutica places a high priority on quality and food security and always adheres to EU standards. The company organises regular inspections at every stage of the production process and operates its own laboratory for testing. In fact, quality gives Frutica its competitive edge. Anatolij Kljuchko says, “Our European clients know that they can trust us to provide high quality. We are also a transparent business, and our client base continues to grow.”
A current goal for Frutica is to produce strawberries on 100 hectares while also keeping the quality of the fruit very high, with natural, concentrated flavour. “We need around €3 million in financing to reach this goal. As always, we will acquire all our equipment and materials from Europe,” Anatolij Kljuchko says.
Anatolij Kljuchko is very positive about the future of Frutica and of agriculture in Ukraine. He explains, “Ukraine has talented human resources as well as rich farmland. The agriculture sector definitely has enormous potential.”
Frutica PrJSC
Popudrenka st. 52
02660 Kyiv
Tel. +38 044 492 9258
[email protected]
www.frutica.com.ua
