Continued growth for forest products leader

national veterinary services. In February, 2008, the approved certification body confirmed the compliance of the production process in our factory with Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91. Since then we have presented our products with the special sign of organic farming. It is now in line with Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling organic products”, says Mr Saluda.

Health above all else

Mr Saluda has spent many years working in a large dairy corporation and knows the food industry very well. He is quite convinced that organic food is the future in Poland. “Seeing increasing demand for healthy, natural food, based on traditional recipes, we strive to meet the expectations of our customers. Health above all else is our idea,” declares Mr Saluda.

The EkoLukta organic dairy products are made from pasteurised milk. The raw material comes exclusively from certified organic farms located in the area of Warmia and Mazury. Organic milk used by EkoLukta does not contain GMO contamination or pesticide residues, whose use is expressly prohibited in organic farming. Synthetic additives and adjuvants, such as dyes, preservatives, antioxidants and coating agents, are not used in the production process. The products are manufactured exclusively from natural ingredients.

The entire manufacturing process, from breeding and feeding cows, milk transport, production and packaging to sale, is strictly controlled. The unique taste and smell are obtained by selecting suitable strains of bacteria, not genetically modified.

Production is carried out only with the use of traditional methods. Most of the activities such as pouring, moulding and pressing of curd, cutting the curd cheese, butter moulding, and packaging of many products is done by hand. The manufacturing technology and high biological quality of the raw material ensure that the final products have a higher nutritional value and increased mineral content, especially when it comes to trace elements and vitamins.

Preparing foreign markets

EkoLukta employs 20 people. The company’s monthly production is estimated as 40–50 tonnes. According to Mr Saluda, EkoLukta is profitable and its annual sales growth is 20–30 per cent.

So far, the company’s entire output is sold domestically. “We have many inquiries from all over the world, from east and west, even from the Far East. The reason why we still

do not export our products lies in economies of scale. We need much more raw milk to offer our products for export markets. We are working on this problem, looking for a solution that would not cause the loss of our high quality. This is a very important question for us, as exports are our priority for further development,” explains Mr Saluda.

Quark and other dairy products

Quark cheese (also called curd cheese or cottage cheese) is the company’s flagship product. It is made with no additives, preservatives and dyes, and is offered as full-fat quark that contains 9 per cent fat, as semi-skimmed quark with 4.5 per cent fat and as low fat quark, which is produced from skimmed milk and is devoid of fat.

“Top quality raw material, a lower level of acidity compared to the national standards of both the raw material used and the final product, along with manual production mean that the product has the unique taste, aroma and texture of traditional Polish, farm cottage cheese”, says Mr Saluda.

EkoLukta is also a producer of flavoured cheese, which is a source of high-value protein. It contains large amounts of calcium, A and D vitamins and vitamins of the B group. Excellent taste and nutritional values make it perfect as a complete meal, as snacks, or a dessert, as well as an ingredient of other products (pancakes, cheesecake).

Semi-hard cheese is another of EkoLukta’s product offered. It is matured for 4–6 weeks. Suitable strains of bacteria cause the unique taste of the cheese. The company’s butter is produced exclusively from organic cream and is rich in vitamins, particularly from the A, D, E and K groups. Organic cream is soured with pure cultures of lactic acid bacteria and is excellent for salads and soups, while natural yogurt from EkoLukta contains bacteria that have a positive effect on the digestive system. It is easily absorbed by the body and is recommended for people who can not drink milk. It is also offered with natural, organic fruits. Natural yoghurt has no sugar, whereas fruit yogurt has a small amount of cane sugar as an ingredient of fruits. n

Bioveri” is a company that has been well known for 15 years as a producer of organic sesame bars. It has also imported for 5 years organic ingredients with ecological certificates.

Full list of the ingredients is included in our documentation evidence and shown on our website. Please contact us if you have any questions. ekolukta.home.pl

Karl Hedin is a Nordic leader in the manufacture of specialist wood packaging and forestry products. Industry Europe looks at how the company adds value to the timber it processes at its saw and planing mills in Sweden and Estonia, and how it utilises the latest technology to improve productivity and efficiency for its customers.