Looking back at past facts and experiences is indispensable for any predictions of market movements and potential business moves in the future. And when it comes to the period behind us, I believe that we, as an economic community, have already extensively covered all known factors, from the pandemic that began in 2020, the war in Ukraine and the consequent energy crisis, inflation and skyrocketing prices to new conflicts in the Middle East, so there is really no need to further detail this topic.
However, it is precisely in these circumstances that we have witnessed the crucial importance of uninterrupted investments in infrastructure and all key production and business processes. In these challenging and unstable times, we have shown both to ourselves and to others that we possess the necessary competencies, resilience, and competitiveness for further growth and development. The knowledge and experience gathered during this period have provided us with an additional level of flexibility, which is particularly evident in the continuation of the positive trend of business breakthroughs that we have continued to achieve this year at the level of the entire Vindija Group.
Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that as an economic and social community, we are at a significant turning point that holds many opportunities for all of us, namely the green energy transition. The Republic of Croatia is a member of the European Union, which is exceptionally determined to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent. Accordingly, our entire energy and economic sector must carefully monitor all opportunities and possibilities in the upcoming period, which will definitely be present and where we will have to impose ourselves among the first as trendsetters to ensure the necessary competitiveness for long-term business and economic goals. It is well known that digital transformation and orientation towards sustainable energy sources have already gained exceptionally strong momentum at the broader European level, and the Vindija Group is an integral part of this green wave at our national level. In the past period, we have also implemented concrete measures towards sustainable development and combating carbon footprint, which will prove to be key steps in the near future.
Energy Neutrality
The advantages of the green energy transition, besides creating a pledge for a cleaner and safer future for our planet and community, primarily reflect in greater efficiency in managing energy resources, i.e., reduced energy costs. The Vindija Group is a huge consumer of electricity and gas, which is why we continuously not only contemplate but also actively work on technical and managerial solutions in this direction. A large part of our strategic investments is therefore dedicated precisely to this. We are currently building three photovoltaic power plants that are co-financed by the Rural Development Program. Furthermore, in the next year or two, we will realize investments in the construction of seven integrated and non-integrated photovoltaic power plants with a total installed capacity of nearly five megawatts. After that, we plan to build a biogas plant, for which we have already undertaken some actions – all in the pursuit of energy neutrality as much as possible.
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As leaders in the food industry, we must also take care that, in addition to our business processes, the products themselves reduce the carbon footprint through innovative conceptual and practical solutions. In this regard, we particularly value our collaboration with our strategic partner and supplier, Tetra Pak, and proudly emphasize that we are the first in Croatia to introduce plant-based packaging. Its innovative technological solutions certified by the Carbon Trust organization are complemented by carbon-neutral packaging for part of the range of long-life milk, plant-based drinks, and juices. Additionally, an important novelty is related to our product Cekin Gavelino, which now comes in new packaging without an aluminum container, reducing packaging waste by 66 percent and the carbon footprint by more than 50 percent.
We Continue to Set Trends
However, reducing the carbon footprint is a long-term process and is not something that our customers can experience firsthand. Their priority, and thus ours, is to provide uncompromisingly healthy, high-quality, and 100 percent authentic products. We have further solidified our position as a leader in this direction this year with three extremely important excellence certifications. The first and most important is the globally recognized certificate ‘Produced Without the Use of Antibiotics’ for Cekin chicken, awarded by the internationally established certification body DNV Adriatica. We received this certificate for a total of 60 products, of which 49 products belong to the well-known Cekin Chicken range, and 11 to the Cekin Kids range, the first domestic line of chicken products intended for healthy and quality nutrition for children.
Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture has awarded us, among the first companies in Croatia, the certificate of the National Quality System ‘Proven Quality – Croatia’ for poultry meat, and recently we became the only domestic company that holds this quality and authenticity certificate for 62 products from the milk and dairy product range. Besides demonstrating exceptional commitment to traceability from farm to table, the best domestic example of cooperation with local producers, and the highest standards of breeding, production, and logistics, these certificates are a crucial prerequisite for resilience and competitiveness and a guarantee of quality in the times to come.
In conclusion, I believe that in the next business year, the actions of all entities in the food industry will undoubtedly continue to dictate market movements, primarily the prices of energy, raw materials, and other commodities. Furthermore, we have witnessed that specific external factors affecting the safety of farms and production complexes will be particularly important. However, I am confident that there will be ample opportunities for further progress. Thanks to the highest safety standards, strategic investments, timely secured resources, and careful listening to the health and functional affinities and needs of customers, I believe that in the upcoming times, Vindija, as a domestic food leader, will continue to set industry trends.
