Poland is a nation which, compared with other nations in Europe, strongly sticks to its tradition. This is also visible in the kitchen…
That is correct. Poles prefer a traditional cuisine based on Polish traditional products, including traditional fruit and vegetable preserves which are produced by ROLNIK Company. I have in mind pickled cucumbers, sauerkraut or beetroot and horseradish salad, products for which the Polish vegetable processing industry is famous. We also observe this preference in the export of our products which follow our emigrating fellow countrymen. It is in the countries with the biggest number of Poles, i.e. Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, USA, the Netherlands and Germany that we sell the biggest number of products under the ROLNIK brand. When leaving, Poles do not give up traditional products, they only search for them in local stores or suppliers.
Among the fruit and vegetable processing companies with businesses based on product pasteurization and preservation, Polish family businesses are predominant. What is the reason for this?
The fragmentation of the fruit and vegetable processing industry is the reason. This trade has a large number of small, family companies, often made up of several people, that have been run for a few generations but have not been expanded. The production process, which is not very complicated, also has an influence on establishing family businesses which – when run on a small scale – do not need any state-of-the-art technology. Development-oriented companies, such as ROLNIK, along with its development, had to start supporting itself with a well-educated and experienced staff. Please remember that ROLNIK has about 600 permanent employees. The size of ROLNIK and the scale of its business require a broader look and new ideas from the outside. We try to cherish family company values and combine them with modern management practices. From our experience we know that such a model works.
The high and consistent quality of products and constantly expanding the assortment – is this the way to success for the ROLNIK Company?
Quality is always on the first place in our production, right from the moment of the cultivation and supply of raw materials. We focus on regular and reliable suppliers. Only vegetables and fruit of the highest quality come to our processing plants. Our products are produced based on the highest possible standards. We hold all certificates required in the EU and worldwide, namely: IFS & BRC. Regarding the assortment, I can say there is no other company trading in vegetable and fruit processing in Poland which has such a wide assortment. We offer more than 250 products. Virtually, there is not a single vegetable which cannot be found in jars with ROLNIK brand products. A wide range of assortments allows us to satisfy even the most demanding customers searching for unique and unusual products. We often try to introduce novelties to our offer, previously not available in Poland, known by customers only from their trips abroad. It allows us to draw their attention and to promote new culinary habits, as well as to increase our sales.
What does the company’s production base look like?
ROLNIK Company owns 4 factories in total. Three are located in southern Poland in Mikołów, Orzesze and Daniec near Opole and we have one factory in Hungary. Each factory has its specialization, however if need be, all the factories complement each other. The factories have modern equipment which allows us to process fruit and vegetables on a large scale, as well as constantly develop our assortment. Our fleet of machines are constantly being modernized and developed. Recently, we bought a state-of-the-art machine to drill fruit, new autoclaves and a new mixing cutter. These machines considerably enhance our production capacity and at present our plants process about 34,000 tonnes of stock per annum which allows us to carry out really big contracts in Poland and abroad. Obviously, we are planning new investments. Keeping track and implementing new technologies and trends in the fruit and vegetable processing industry is extremely important to gain success, because it often allows to reduce costs and increase the company's competitiveness.
ROLNIK has its regular suppliers. Is loyalty the most important thing in this line of cooperation?
As I said before, ROLNIK Company always puts high quality and reliable suppliers on the first place. Obviously, when cooperating with farmers loyalty is the most important thing. In our Polish reality you cannot always count on this loyalty. The price is the most important thing. Moreover, in the extreme conditions which we had this season because of drought, the vegetable crop is often 40-50% smaller than in previous years, even the most loyal suppliers cannot meet our demands regarding the quality and quantity. We often help ourselves by purchasing fruit and vegetables abroad. Being a member of the EU, we have the opportunity to buy raw materials abroad, where the drought did not destroy the crop, without any barriers.
The possibility to acquire high quality raw material is a key factor for further development of the fruit and vegetable processing sector. What is this sector’s position in Poland, compared with other European countries?
As it turns out, this year our agriculture’s position is not as good as it seems. In particular, I have in mind the system of arable land irrigation which does not exist in Poland at all. In the event of this year's drought the absence of land irrigation – as is in Hungary or Germany – resulted in a considerably lower availability and quality of raw materials compared with our neighbours. In this area we have much to improve. And regarding the fruit and vegetable processing sector itself, we have nothing to be ashamed of. As I mentioned before, the sector is fragmented but big players are constantly developing themselves, factories are being extended and modernized, and ROLNIK Company is an example of this. We are competitive in relation to Western European companies and the perspectives ahead of us are very promising.
That is correct. Poles prefer a traditional cuisine based on Polish traditional products, including traditional fruit and vegetable preserves which are produced by ROLNIK Company. I have in mind pickled cucumbers, sauerkraut or beetroot and horseradish salad, products for which the Polish vegetable processing industry is famous. We also observe this preference in the export of our products which follow our emigrating fellow countrymen. It is in the countries with the biggest number of Poles, i.e. Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, USA, the Netherlands and Germany that we sell the biggest number of products under the ROLNIK brand. When leaving, Poles do not give up traditional products, they only search for them in local stores or suppliers.
Among the fruit and vegetable processing companies with businesses based on product pasteurization and preservation, Polish family businesses are predominant. What is the reason for this?
The fragmentation of the fruit and vegetable processing industry is the reason. This trade has a large number of small, family companies, often made up of several people, that have been run for a few generations but have not been expanded. The production process, which is not very complicated, also has an influence on establishing family businesses which – when run on a small scale – do not need any state-of-the-art technology. Development-oriented companies, such as ROLNIK, along with its development, had to start supporting itself with a well-educated and experienced staff. Please remember that ROLNIK has about 600 permanent employees. The size of ROLNIK and the scale of its business require a broader look and new ideas from the outside. We try to cherish family company values and combine them with modern management practices. From our experience we know that such a model works.
The high and consistent quality of products and constantly expanding the assortment – is this the way to success for the ROLNIK Company?
Quality is always on the first place in our production, right from the moment of the cultivation and supply of raw materials. We focus on regular and reliable suppliers. Only vegetables and fruit of the highest quality come to our processing plants. Our products are produced based on the highest possible standards. We hold all certificates required in the EU and worldwide, namely: IFS & BRC. Regarding the assortment, I can say there is no other company trading in vegetable and fruit processing in Poland which has such a wide assortment. We offer more than 250 products. Virtually, there is not a single vegetable which cannot be found in jars with ROLNIK brand products. A wide range of assortments allows us to satisfy even the most demanding customers searching for unique and unusual products. We often try to introduce novelties to our offer, previously not available in Poland, known by customers only from their trips abroad. It allows us to draw their attention and to promote new culinary habits, as well as to increase our sales.
What does the company’s production base look like?
ROLNIK Company owns 4 factories in total. Three are located in southern Poland in Mikołów, Orzesze and Daniec near Opole and we have one factory in Hungary. Each factory has its specialization, however if need be, all the factories complement each other. The factories have modern equipment which allows us to process fruit and vegetables on a large scale, as well as constantly develop our assortment. Our fleet of machines are constantly being modernized and developed. Recently, we bought a state-of-the-art machine to drill fruit, new autoclaves and a new mixing cutter. These machines considerably enhance our production capacity and at present our plants process about 34,000 tonnes of stock per annum which allows us to carry out really big contracts in Poland and abroad. Obviously, we are planning new investments. Keeping track and implementing new technologies and trends in the fruit and vegetable processing industry is extremely important to gain success, because it often allows to reduce costs and increase the company's competitiveness.
ROLNIK has its regular suppliers. Is loyalty the most important thing in this line of cooperation?
As I said before, ROLNIK Company always puts high quality and reliable suppliers on the first place. Obviously, when cooperating with farmers loyalty is the most important thing. In our Polish reality you cannot always count on this loyalty. The price is the most important thing. Moreover, in the extreme conditions which we had this season because of drought, the vegetable crop is often 40-50% smaller than in previous years, even the most loyal suppliers cannot meet our demands regarding the quality and quantity. We often help ourselves by purchasing fruit and vegetables abroad. Being a member of the EU, we have the opportunity to buy raw materials abroad, where the drought did not destroy the crop, without any barriers.
The possibility to acquire high quality raw material is a key factor for further development of the fruit and vegetable processing sector. What is this sector’s position in Poland, compared with other European countries?
As it turns out, this year our agriculture’s position is not as good as it seems. In particular, I have in mind the system of arable land irrigation which does not exist in Poland at all. In the event of this year's drought the absence of land irrigation – as is in Hungary or Germany – resulted in a considerably lower availability and quality of raw materials compared with our neighbours. In this area we have much to improve. And regarding the fruit and vegetable processing sector itself, we have nothing to be ashamed of. As I mentioned before, the sector is fragmented but big players are constantly developing themselves, factories are being extended and modernized, and ROLNIK Company is an example of this. We are competitive in relation to Western European companies and the perspectives ahead of us are very promising.
