Latvian dairy products producer Food Union reports that in 2022 the concern started selling the iconic cottage cheese snacks Kārums in Norway. On top of that, Food Union also restarted exports of products to Ukraine at the end of the year, and export volumes have since reached the levels observed before the start of the Russian invasion.
The company managed to expand export volumes in eight countries. Aside from Norway [which has a large community of Latvia’s economic migrants – BNN], Food Union has started exporting cottage cheese snacks Kārums to Uzbekistan. Food Union has also found export clients in Ireland, Turkey, Netherlands and Kazakhstan.
Exports to Poland, Moldova and Estonia have tripled, Food Union reports.
Food Union director general in Latvia Irēna Holodnaja explains: «I am happy the resources invested last year into attraction of new export partners have brought results. This includes participation in multiple foreign food expos and visits of potential partners to Riga. This year and going forward export will be one of our company’s main strategic priorities, because
our manufacturing capacity and volumes of milk produced by domestic farmers are significantly higher than domestic consumption.
From now on out export portfolio will include not only milk, ice cream and HoReCa [public catering companies – BNN] products, but also on demand specially-made private brand products,» Holodnaja said.
Currently Latvian-made Food Union dairy products and ice cream are exported to more than 20 countries around the world. Azerbaijan is the biggest export market, especially in the sour cream category.
Ukraine is the second biggest market export-wise. Although the war caused supplies to this country to be cut off completely, Food Union products have since returned there.
The UK is third when it comes to Food Union’s exports of cheese snacks Kārums, as this country is home to many Latvian economic migrants. Together with these, there are also other important markets, such as Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and China, as well as many western and Nordic countries, Australia and South-East Asia. In 2021 Food Union Group achieved turnover of EUR 291 million in Europe alone. The company employs more than 2 500 people.
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