Despite the devastating impact of the war, "Artika-Bio", a Kharkiv-based food processing company, has managed to recover 70% of its production capacity and continues to deliver premium-quality frozen fruits and vegetables to its customers.
Before 2022, "Artika-Bio" operated a full-cycle agricultural business, growing its broccoli, cauliflower, and raspberries on 15 hectares while also processing and freezing additional vegetables, fruits, and berries purchased from other farmers. The company sold its products under its brand and collaborated with retail chains under private labels.
However, the war severely impacted the business, leaving the facility almost destroyed, and the fields contaminated with landmines. Faced with these challenges, the company relocated in the summer of 2022 while maintaining some operations in Kharkiv.
Instead of rebuilding from scratch, "Artika-Bio" adapted its business model by outsourcing production to other facilities while maintaining strict quality control over the raw materials, production process, and final product. With over 20 years of expertise in frozen food processing, the company ensures that every step of the process meets high industry standards.
In 2023, "Artika-Bio" invested in a modern packaging line equipped with a metal detector to meet private-label production requirements. The new facility can package frozen vegetables, fruits, and berries into polypropylene bags ranging from 200 grams to 2.5 kg at a speed of up to 25 packs per minute.
Maintaining proper storage conditions is crucial to ensuring product quality. With frequent power outages posing a serious risk, "Artika-Bio" installed a high-capacity generator to keep its freezing chambers operational.
"Even short power cuts can disrupt the freezing process, leading to significant losses, especially for delicate berries," explains Serhii Sukhina, the company's director. "The faster the raw materials are processed after harvest, the higher the final product's quality."
Source: agronews.ua