Mlekara Subotica
Native name | Млекара Суботица |
|---|---|
| Company type | Joint-stock company |
| Industry | Food and drink,Dairy produce |
| Founded | 4 March 1955 |
| Defunct | February 2015 |
| Fate | Closed and merged intoImlek |
| Successor | Imlek |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | butter,cheese,kajmak/vrhnje,milk,powdered milk,pudding,yogurts |
| Owner | Mid Europa Partners(100%) |
| Website | www |
Mlekara Subotica(Serbian:Млекара Суботица) was a Serbian producer ofdairy productsbased inSubotica,Serbia.
It was one of the largest and most modern dairy manufacture companies in Serbia. As of 2012, Mlekara Subotica produced around 16 million litres of freshmilkand 5 million litresyogurtannually. Other dairy products includecheese,kajmak/vrhnje,powdered milk,puddingandbutter.
It exported its products to the countries in the region as well as in theEuropean Union,with 50 tons of dairy products a month.[1]
History
[edit]The establishment (1955–1965)
[edit]AD Mlekara Subotica was founded on 4 March 1955 inSuboticaunder the name "Co – operative Dairy - Independent Business Organization". In 1957, Mlekara Subotica purchased its first usedtrucks,a batchpasteurizerwith ribbedcoolerand a separator pasteurizer. At that time, the firstchemical analysesof milk quality, regarding acidity analyses and the assessment ofmilk fatcontent were made. In May 1959 "Co- operative Dairy" becameMlekara Subotica.In 1963, instead ofmilk churns,glass packagingformilkandyogurtwere introduced. In 1968, Mlekara Subotica is awarded with a Yugoslav Oscar forpackaging,more precisely forplastic cuppackaging forsour cream.New, so called “Dutch tanks” for the production ofcheesewere purchased. In 1972, Mlekara Subotica had moved to a new location. It meant better working conditions and a significant increase in the number ofemployeesinvolving their better qualification structure.[2]
The modernization (1966–1975)
[edit]The period of 1966 and onwards is the age of modernization. Mlekara Subotica was equipped with a roller-type milk drying installation. New vehicles were bought, as well as afuel oildrivensteam boilerand a number of milk cooling devices. In 1975, a new, 100.000 liters per day capacityspray drierwas put into operation. At that time, the production program of Mlekara Subotica consisted of: Sonja pasteurized milk,fermentedmilk drinks, cheeses,butterandpowder milk.[3]
The expansion (1976–1995)
[edit]In 1978, Mlekara purchased a combined installation and another spray drier forprocessing milk,fruitandvegetables,thus ensuring safety in supplying final consumers with dairy product, as well as its buyers - companies from theconfectioneryindustry andbakeries,as well asfodderproducers. The development of the new powder milk production facility was finished. Another roller was bought for drying milk for powder milk, as well as a two-stageevaporationplant,acompressor,then a new "freezing”water line,a brand new vehicles and a whole range of minor investments was implemented. In 1985, Mlekara Subotica celebrated three decades of successful and continuous growth of operations. The company processed over 56 millionraw milkand other dairy products, and had 265 employees. Mlekara Subotica had grown into one of the biggest dairy companies inYugoslavia,at the same time occupying a significant market share in the processingindustrygroup on the level of the country.[4]
The period between 1986 and 1995 was marked by the building of the cheese plant, wherequarkand soft white cheese were produced. Mlekara Subotica introduced the technology of creamy cheese spreads. The production of instant powder products started in 1989. Mlekara Subotica opened a representative office and a shop inBelgrade,and started the cooperation with C-Market. At the same time, another representative office and a shop were opened inĆuprijatogether with the company Firma Pomoravlje, as well as the company's own branch office and shop inNiš.Major investments in new machines “tetra rex” and “elopak”,provided eco-friendly paper packaging of short shelf-life liquid products. The investment in theAsepticA3sterilizingline, in the amount of about 2 millionSwiss Francsenabledtetra-pakpackaging of aseptic milk,chocolate milkandjuices,and it provided a more serious presence in the center of former Yugoslavia, since product shelf-life was prolonged. Significant funds were invested in primary production. In this period, about 1.800calfheifers, 400milking machinesand about 100 cooling devices were purchased. In 1995, Mlekara Subotica welcomes the fourth decade completely solvent and free from any debt, with investments financed solely from the company's own funds.[5]
Further developments (1996–2005)
[edit]The activities of Mlekara Subotica were categorized by the trend of growth in the field ofraw milkreceptions and in technical –technological and marketing areas. From a simple co – operative dairy Mlekara Subotica has successfully managed to develop into a factory, which can today be measured by theEuropean standards.Mlekara Subotica had processed more than 1.3 billion liters of milk. The quantities processed today are one hundred times more than at the very beginning! During 2003, the full automation of the fermented dairy product plant was finished, and it consisted of new equipment for milkstandardization,milk and fermentedcreampasteurization andhomogenization,fermented dairy product production (yogurt, fermented milk, fermented cream, newprobioticandlow-caloriedrinks). Together with the British Salford Investment Fund, which is the majority owner of Mlekara Subotica from November 2003, the investments into new technologies were continued. In the same year, the buy-up of about 60 million liters of milk were planned, hence the emphasis was given to the development of familyfarms.At present, there are 72 family farms owned by Mlekara Subotica, and by the end of the year another 30 farms will be developed, where milk production can be measured by European standards. These efforts will ensure extra quality raw milk. The laboratory equipped for microbiological and chemical control and for the control of thecows’ health safety has started to work recently. This lab is an additional link in the chain of internal quality control. In 2005, Mlekara was certificated toISO9001:2000. TheHACCPsystem for controlled production has also been introduced in the company, and it will enable export toEUcountries and the countries of the region.[6]
Modernization (2006–2015)
[edit]The implementation of thequality managementstandard initiated several strategically significant technical-technological and constructional investments. In 2008, the application area of BRC Standard was extended to the full production range, while in the year 2009HALALstandard has also been implemented which defines the conditions for food producers and so could be exported in the countries with mostlyMuslimpopulation. Thanks to the intensive joint work with theVeterinaryAdministration, the positive assessment by theEuropean Commission,Mlekara Subotica was on the list. The Commission's decision was a confirmation of quality and the safety of products, which results in a 30 million euro investment of Danube Foods Group in all aspects of business since it became the majority owner in 2003. In 2010, Mlekara Subotica adapted and improved its operations according to modern concepts ofenvironmental protectionand introduced theenvironmental managementsystem ISO 14001:2004. The entire system of production and business was brought to the required level when the control of the EU commission was announced in the first quarter of 2010, thus confirmed the decision of the Veterinary Inspection ofSerbiawhich approved the export of products of Mlekara Subotica to the EU. In 2011 was brought another standard to Mlekara Subotica called IFS V5, which improved thefood safetyandproduct quality,as well as should be increase security and confidence of consumers and among all improve cost efficiency in thefood chain.[7]
Shutdown and merging with Imlek
[edit]In February 2015, the investment fundMid Europa Partnersbought "Danube Foods Group" (which at the time owned Mlekara Subotica) for a sum of 575 million euros.[8]Later, Mlekara Subotica was merged into the Serbian largest dairy products companyImlek,thus way ceasing company's operations; company's facilities in Subotica have since been used by Imlek.[9]
Notes
[edit]- ^""Mlekara Subotica" izvozi u EU 50 tona mlečnih proizvoda "(in Serbian). TheBlic.19 July 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"The First decade: 1955 – 1965".Mlekara.rs. Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"The Second decade: 1966 - 1975".Mlekara.rs. Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"The Third Decade: 1976 - 1985".Mlekara.rs. Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"The Forth Decade: 1986 - 1995".Mlekara.rs. Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"The Fifth decade: 1996 - 2005".Mlekara.rs. Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"The sixth decade: 2006 –".Mlekara.rs. Archived fromthe originalon 23 August 2012.Retrieved24 November2012.
- ^"Objavljena cena: Danube Foods prodat za 575 miliona evra".n1info(in Serbian). 3 February 2015.Retrieved2 February2018.
- ^"Subotička mlekara dobila novog vlasnika".subotica(in Serbian). 3 February 2015.Retrieved2 February2018.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Resenje o iskljucenju akcija(in Serbian)
- Izveštaj revizora o pripajanju(in Serbian)