How does the region’s food product market change in times of external political and economic turbulence? How do the local food producers survive? Should citizens of Samara be worried about food deficit? These questions, among others, were answered by experts in the press center of the Samara Regional Broadcasting Agency during the meeting in the current state of the regional food industry.
No Deficit to Come
For two years, Russia, as well as the rest of the world, fought the new coronavirus infection. The rapid spreading of the virus had an adverse impact on all aspects of human life. This year, our country had to face a new challenge, the large scale sanctions and restrictions imposed by the European satellites of the U.S. This resulted in rather unfavorable economic conditions in Russia. In this situation, provision of the Samara Region with food products and their availability in retail chains and markets of the region became one of the most vital questions important for every dweller of our region.
Restrictive measures have enabled Russia to reduce dependence on imported products and find new sources of income from exports. According to Yulia Klinkova, Head of the Department of Trade and Consumer Market Development of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Samara Region, the share of local producers' products on store shelves has increased in recent months.
"For socially important goods, the increase was from 30 to 90%, depending on the group of goods, there is a tendency to a further increase. We do not have any prerequisites for worrying about a shortage of a particular food product, because the assortment range of local producers is quite wide — from basic products that form the consumer basket to delicacies, meat, and fish. We have excellent cheeses and honey, ice cream and much more," said the expert.
More Domestic Products
Sergey Posashkov, Head of the Department of Food and Processing Industry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Samara Region, spoke in more detail about the changes in the regional food market. According to him, for 5 months of the current year, the volume of production of meat and meat by-products increased by 124% in the region. The volume of processed fish production increased almost 3 times, the volume of juice production — by 141%, vegetable oil — by 133%, flour and confectionery products — by 107%. However, for some types of goods there is a decrease in indicators. In particular, they began to produce less chocolate and sausage products, semi-finished meat products.
"According to the information of companies, the production volumes of these goods have decreased due to a low consumer demand, that is, people began to buy less of such goods," Sergei Posashkov explained.
There are 718 food industry enterprises, 177 beverage producers, and about 1900 farms in the region. According to the ministry, these companies, if necessary, are ready to fully provide the region with food.
"The companies are working stably, there are no failures and no decrease in production. Of course, there are some difficulties. In particular, with the sanctions imposed, companies had difficulties with the supply of raw ingredients, spare parts for equipment, packaging. Now enterprises are either switching to Russian analogues or changing logistics chains", — said Sergey Posashkov.
The expert said that the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, created an electronic platform — the Import Substitution Exchange (etpgpb.ru). On it, enterprises can post information about what equipment and raw materials they need. Based on requests, domestic analogues are selected for them. This is one of the measures to support our producers. Another form of support is agricultural start-ups, or grants that citizens of the country receive for the development of their own agribusiness.
Companies Survived
Goods of local manufacturers are available in retail, from fairs to large federal chains. "Food-Innovation" LLC products can be seen on marketplaces and in regional chains. The company specializes in the production and sale of functional foods.
— Our innovation is in the fact that there are no analogs to this product in Russia; what makes it special is the package, a stick, a monodose of 30 grams, containing the daily dose of vitamins and microelements depending on the type of the product. We source our raw ingredients from European countries, Russia and Asia, — says the General Director of "Food-Innovation" LLC Ekaterina Kravchuk.
In February of this year, the company started mass production. Despite the difficult economic conditions then and today, the company intends to strengthen its position in the Russian food market.
— Of course, in February, the situation kicked the ground from everyone’s feet. For the first two months, our suppliers changed their selling prices several times a day, and logistics chains were broken. Spring has been tough. Nevertheless, now everything has stabilized, there are no interruptions in the supply of raw materials. Now everything is fine, everything is stable, — says Ekaterina Kravchuk.
— At the moment, we have plans to work in our own country, to be represented in every region of Russia, and also to deliver to our friendly countries.
Another brand that avoided crisis is "Novosemeykinsky Bread". The bread-baking company has been around for decades, since the foundation of the settlement. During its existence, the company survived perestroika, a series of crises, currency fluctuations, and always its team worked professionally and honestly. The production was modernized, but the quality of bread always remained at its best, as a result, the name "Novosemeykinsky Bread" became the geographical name of the product. The current situation in the country and in the world was unable to undermine the company’s operations. It buys raw materials in our region from manufacturers who have proven themselves from the best side for many years.
— It seems we did not face any dire difficulties. Our product has a steady presence in the food market. No situation would change it: people will eat our bread. It is available practically in all of the region, both in large chains and in small stores, — says General Director of "Novosemeykinsky Bread" Alexander Ananichev.
— There was no decrease in production versus the previous year, we carry on and make our plans. We make new products and bring them to federal chains and in this way we increase out turnover. Our latest addition was the "Moskovskaya" but, it’s very tasty, judging by the sales. After February our prices have grown a little, but as the situation is becoming better, our products are getting cheaper. In many aspects, this is due to the support we receive from the authorities. Everything is fine.
In the stores, the "Novosemeykinsky Bread" products may be defined by the company’s ribbon on the bottom of every loaf.