Delicious crackers Rarytas

DELICIOUS CRACKERS

Rarytas, a company from Stargard Szczeciński, is Poland’s leading producer of savoury crackers, sandwich cream biscuits and butter biscuits. The sesame crackers have been the company’s flagship product for 30 years. Dariusz Balcerzyk reports.

Rarytas means ‘delicacy’ or ‘titbit’ in the Polish language. It is not only a name that distinguishes the company from others but also defines its strategy of competing through quality. “All our products are based on natural ingredients, with no artificial dyes and preservatives. We do our best to have our products fresh, crispy and crunchy and unique – just as our customers like them. Our company intends to be one of the most customer-friendly producers operating in the market. This is what distinguishes us from others,” says Joanna Gasiorowska, president of Rarytas Limited Liability Company.

Rarytas was founded in 1960 as a factory operating within the Spolem cooperative structure. Initially it started with the production of biscuits. In 1974 it launched the production of original, small crackers which have been sold successfully for more than 40 years both in Poland and abroad.

In 1994 the factory was privatised, and gained a major foreign shareholder. However, in June 2000 it was overtaken by a business entity with exclusively Polish capital. This helped to stabilise the company’s position on the market.

In 2003, Rarytas implemented the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) system, which guarantees high quality products as well as the company’s ability to monitor its production processes. In August 2003 the factory received ISO 9001:2001 certification, which further strengthened its image as a market leader.

“In May 2007 we received the IFS Certificate (International Food Standard), which combines such systems as quality management and HACCP principles. It focuses on customers’ needs and requirements as well as defining the requirements for employees and the production processes. These are key elements for meeting global standards of food safety. In the interest of our customers we try to bring together our years of experience and gained knowledge,” says Ms Gasiorowska.

In 2009 Rarytas expanded its business into two new fields: firstly, it opened a hotel and restaurant in a medieval castle in Pezino near Stargard Szczecinski; secondly, it launched a natural aggregate mine.

The expert on crackers

However, despite the above, the production of cakes, butter biscuits and sandwich cream biscuits remains the company’s core business. The Rarytas crackers are available in a variety of shapes and flavours. The sesame crackers have been the company’s flagship product for 30 years, but the range also includes spicy crackers, salty crackers, cheese crackers, onion crackers, crackers with herbs and crackers

BEST QUALITY FLOUR, GROATS, OAT FLAKES

Przedsiębiorstwo Zbożowo-Młynarskie „PZZ” w Stoisławiu S.A. Stoisław 11, 76-031 Mścice, POLAND; tel.: +48 94 34 55 925; fax: +48 94 34 55 992; e-mail: stoislaw@stoislaw.com.pl www.stoislaw.com.pl

PZZ

For many years the Grain and Milling Company ‘PZZ’ (Poland) has been supplying Rarytas with high-quality flour. For both companies, the overriding priority is customer satisfaction with every aspect of our business, from products and customer services to delivery times and conditions.

For over 50 years, PZZ has been supplying flour, groats, flakes and brans to large manufacturing plants, bakeries, retail chains, wholesalers and cash and carry chains throughout Poland and the European market. We also produce bespoke flours produced according to customer specifications.

Thanks to our state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and qualified staff we are able to offer the highest quality products to meet the needs of our customers. Every year we buy around 100,000 tonnes of grains which guarantees price stability, reliable delivery and the best quality standards for our customers over long periods. We hold the ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 22000:2005 certificates and are also IFS certified.

with poppy seeds. At the beginning of April 2012, Rarytas launched the production of crackers in two new flavours: bacon and fromage.

The company is also a producer of various butter biscuits: with sugar, with spices, with cocoa and with coconut. In addition, it manufactures sandwich cream biscuits (cream flavoured, cocoa flavoured, walnut flavoured and lemon flavoured).

Rarytas has been awarded with many prizes, certificates and distinctions. “These allow us to increase our prestige, as well as strengthening the loyalty of consumers. Furthermore, they oblige us to maintain the high quality of our products and services,” adds Ms Gasiorowska.

The company has an extensive network of partners. “The basic criterion for cooperation with our partners is the quality of services offered by them. Our suppliers of raw materials are large, trusted companies with whom we have been working for many years. Packaging suppliers provide complete security for our food. What’s more, they also offer modern packaging solutions in terms of design. Carriers, in turn, provide safe and fast transportation to take our products to their final destination,” says Ms Gasiorowska.

Development backed by the EU

Rarytas is medium-sized company which employs 120 people and each year manufactures some 5000 tonnes of products. More than 30 per cent of the company’s annual sales are exported to such countries as Romania, France, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In contrast to the situation observed in previous years, international retail networks – i.e. super- and hypermarkets – are now the company’s main distribution channels. The traditional market has shrunk significantly over the past few years.

The company has been the beneficiary of EU subsidies. “Many of our projects, such as the development of packaging design, have been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Programme Innovative Economy, grants for innovation,” explains Ms Gasiorowska.

As for the future, the company is planning the further development of its current offering and its product portfolio, which would include healthy products with higher seed content. n

www.rarytas.pl