The AVK Company plans to increase its manufacturing of chocolate products to 85%

The “AVK” Company plans to increase its manufacturing of chocolate products to 85% of the total volume by the end of 2007 (compared to 2006 end-year results of 70%). To accomplish its plan, the company is investing about USD 20 million in the course of the current year into modernization, acquiring and installation of new chocolate goods production lines.

“The high level of competition in the Ukrainian confectionary market requires companies with long term development intentions to focus by maximum on their core business activities. The “AVK” Company considers chocolate and jelly chewing sweets to be its core products. Therefore, we heavily invest to increase respective manufacturing capacities and to acquire new production lines, which are unique for Ukraine,” states the AVK General Director, Anrey Dikunov.

“During the past few years, all of the company’s manufacturing plants have experienced dismantling of the lines, which were manufacturing products with decreasing popularity. For instance, 13 caramel production lines have been dismantled. Those lines are being replaced with new modern equipment to manufacture high-quality chocolate products. This year, the “AVK” Company plans to invest over USD 10 million into the expansion and modernization of its production capacities at the Dnepropetrovsk Confectionary Plant, which currently accounts for about 40% of the AVK’s total capacities,” says the Plant Director, Sergey Lisnyuk.

Currently, a new chocolate pralines production line is being launched at the Dnepropetrovsk Plant. Besides that, “Assorti” (Assorted) boxed chocolates, manufactured at a modern Swiss production line under a new recipe and in a new design, have already reached the shelves.