EastFruit continues to urge all sane companies to stop any business with russia. Recently, Canadian company McCain Foods, one of the global leaders in potato processing, has announced its plans to stop investments.

McCain Foods Rus, a subsidiary of Canada’s McCain Foods Limited, has decided to halt the construction of a potato processing plant in the Uzlovaya SEZ in the Tula Region and stop shipping ready-made products to the russian market. In addition, the company transferred $200 000 to the Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, a Canadian aid fund for Ukraine.

It was assumed that the enterprise would process more than 200 000 tonnes of potatoes and produce over 100 000 tonnes of finished products per year. French fries, roasted potatoes and breaded potatoes were to form the basis of the assortment. The construction of the plant started last year and was scheduled to complete in 2022.

The cost of the project was estimated at 12.7 billion RUB. The company signed an investment agreement with the regional administration at the end of 2020. In summer 2020, McCain Foods Holland BV and its European subsidiary McCain Europa BV established McCain Foods Rus LLC in the city of Uzlovaya, Tula Region, with an authorized capital of 50 million RUB.

The plans of the Canadian company to build a plant for the production of french fries in russia have been repeatedly reported. For example, a plant in the Bryansk region with the capacity of about 150 000 tonnes was reported to be built in 2011. As a result, the agricultural holding abandoned this idea.

McCain Foods Limited is an international company producing one third of the world’s French fries. McCain operates 49 factories in Canada, USA, Australia, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, India and China.

EastFruit reminds that a company’s reputation is the most valuable asset, and maintaining any relationship with russia today is the destruction of reputation. We also call on all companies and businesses in the world to support the real heroes of Ukraine in their courageous resistance to the russian occupiers. Accounts for donation and other important information on how you can help Ukrainian defenders are available at this link.

Сообщение McCain Foods stops investments in russia. Be like McCain! появились сначала на EastFruit.

The Potato Union of Russia sent a letter to the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT) and the Union of Independent Networks (SNS), in which it proposed introducing “economy-class” tubers into the assortment. The potatoes would differ in size from 35mm to 55mm and come in 2.5 kg, 3 kg, and 5 kg packages as explained by Tatiana Gubina, the head of the Potato Union of Russia, to Agroinvestor.

Thus, producers want to stabilize potato prices. The product will become 10-15% cheaper for the end consumer while the average prices for potatoes increased by 40% over the year. This happened, among other things, due to a decrease in the harvest, which, according to the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies, fell by 10% to 6.8 million tons (in the commodity sector) in 2020. Russian media clarify that the Ministry of Agriculture approved the proposal and sent a request to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to support it.

Retailers now have strict sizing requirements for potatoes so producers have to sort by size. If you pack unsorted potatoes, you can save up to 50% at the packaging stage. Also, the inclusion of 33-55 mm potato nets in the assortment will expand the product offer for consumers. AKORT also appreciates the initiative, given the current economic conditions. The association noted that some retailers are already in talks.

Tatiana Gubina said that the smaller calibre potatoes are of the same quality as larger ones: “In general, 55+ is a networking standard. This does not mean that we offer the consumer potatoes of dubious quality. The potato flavour is not affected by size. It’s just a matter of preferences: some love smaller, some larger.” According to the Potato Union, the proposal to conclude such agreements was made back in September. The executive director of the union then said that sharp temperature fluctuations over the summer resulted in smaller potatoes. The Union discussed the situation with retail chains asking to introduce an additional grade so that retailers would take such products for sale. However, no decision has yet been made.

According to Ms Gubina, some kind of correct indicator for the cost of potatoes on the shelf is needed: “After all, there are many different kinds from the bulk box to the premium class packed in a paper bag.” She does not exclude that the same price control from the state as in the case of sunflower oil and sugar may affect potatoes. “The state has the right to control what category of potatoes and to set what price. However, the question is, what will be the indicator?”

Read also: Moldova’s gross harvest of potatoes and vegetables lower than forecasted for 2020

The Horticulture Union supports the idea of ​​the Potato Union and has launched a similar initiative for cucumbers. Union Director Mikhail Glushkov notes: “We are working on it with AKORT. Cucumbers are standard straight lines, but there are curves. The initiative will provide an opportunity to reduce the price on the shelf, this will provide people with a choice. Next week we will discuss this on the videoconferencing with AKORT.”

Mr Glushkov notes that the taste, colour, and usefulness of the economy-class cucumbers will be no different from the more beautiful products. “We have this history about cucumbers that starts with the aggravation of the situation with prices for sugar and sunflower oil. The minister said to monitor prices more closely, then we prepared a proposal for what needs to be done to reduce prices for cucumbers and tomatoes,” explains Mikhail Glushkov.

Сообщение Russian retail may offer economy-class tubers and cucumbers for sale появились сначала на EastFruit.

The Dutch company Farm Frites Beheer together with K-Agro Holding LLC plan to build a french fries production plant in the Shu region of Kazakhstan. André Carstens, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Netherlands in Nur-Sultan visited the Zhamby region to discuss this and other joint projects with the head of the region, ElDala.kz reports.

According to the regional press service, the project for the french fries production facility is estimated at $145 million. The plan is to commission the plant in 2023 and it will employ 240 people. The facility’s location has been designated and the necessary infrastructure has been installed.

Read also: What prevents Kazakh vegetable growers from growing potatoes?

Local authorities want to start construction as soon as possible stating, “Time is ticking. We need an enterprise, and its products will be exported.” André Carstens assured that the Dutch side is also interested in the timely implementation of the project.

According to Zhenis Oserbay, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors for K-Agro Holding, before the construction of the plant begins, investors plan to plant 65 hectares of potatoes and assess its level of productivity.

Сообщение Dutch company invests $145M for french fries production in Kazakhstan появились сначала на EastFruit.