The European ice cream market development, tendencies of Ukrainian ice cream market and contemporary condition of flavor additives and ingredients — all is in the interview with the representative of “Esarom Ukraine” Austrian company, sales department manager of ice cream ingredients, Shevela Andriy.

— Andriy, the “Esarom Ukraine” company is one of the main strategic partners of the “Rud” company for a long time. We would like to know more about the “Esarom Ukraine” company. How it was established? When and how started the cooperation between our companies?

— I would like to mention that our company is present on the global market of flavoring and ingredients production for food industry since 1946, which is more than 60 years. Outstanding taste had been in the limelight of the “Esarom” company. Flavoring ingredients for food industry are developed, made and exported by the company to all countries of the world. The history of company’s foundation is rather interesting: after the World War I a small family firm launched the flavoring and extracts manufacture for food products; gradually this firm had developed into a trustworthy middle-class company of international level, and carried out its activity regardless of concerns, which was rather problematic at that time. Today, the group of “Esarom” companies owns three manufactures, as well as daughter companies and partners-distributors in more than 20 countries.

— What companies are you cooperating with, apart from ours?

— We cooperate with almost all ice cream producers in Ukraine.

— Andriy, are there differences between work with ice cream producing factories and producing factories of beverages, juices, alcohol…? Where does peculiarity lie?

— There are differences in companies’ work. The products processes are technologically different in the companies that produce ice cream, juice, beverages, and alcohol; they are surely affecting our company’s performance. We are trying to find an individual approach and establish reciprocal relations with any company that seeks cooperation with “Esarom” (disregarding the fact whether it is a huge corporation or small firm).

— What are the “Esarom Еssenzenfabrik GmbH” key products that are placed by “Esarom Ukraine” company?

— Our company is not a distributor of the “Esarom Еssenzenfabrik GmbH” company, we are the authorized agent of this company in Ukraine. We are selling food concentrates, extracts, colorings, stabilizers, bases.

— We believe that the “Esarom” company’s great services have undoubtedly led to success of our products, because of Your high-quality ingredients. How do You attain to stable high quality of ingredients and food additives?

— You see, present equipment determines the accomplishments. “Esarom” has developed such courses as “Innovations” and “Management” to be sure that we supply modern and eligible products. One of its key tasks is to monitor recent tendencies. We reshape these tendencies in promising conceptions and products with the help of recent technologies, which, on the one hand, satisfy clients’ desires and abilities, and, on the other hand, meet the market requirements. It is sort of “challenge”, which we accept every day. Besides, we are not taking aside longstanding classic tastes that are constantly improved and modernized according to recent demands! Such coherent work of the whole company gives the perfect taste and high quality of our products.

— Andriy, is there a competition in Your sphere? What do You think, is it a necessary thing?

— Surely, competition is present in production sphere and ingredients’ sales for food industry. On my opinion, competition — is vital, rather than needy thing! Due to it our company tries to manufacture high quality products, which stand beyond comparison and have fine taste.

— You must have business trips abroad often and monitor the development of European market. Will You tell us about present tendencies of ice cream market in Europe? In what ways European market differs from our — domestic?

— Indeed, I make trips abroad and monitor the development of European market. I also try to monitor it with the help of internet. The most ice cream is consumed in Finland, almost 14.5 l per annum accounts for per capita, the least — in Portugal. One person consumes 4 l of ice cream per annum there. Today, in European ice cream production sphere is a fancy low fat ice cream production — dietary one. As to taste, thai-coco-sesame with pieces, amaretto-mandarin, Madagascar-vanilla-papaya, Mirabelle plum-mascarpone hold much favor. At present, consumer places high requirements to the product he consumes. For example, in Europe products that bring additional value are preferred — these are products with yogurt, sour milk cheese and kefir, products with low fat, sugar and calorie content, products with high content of natural juice and fruits. “Probiotic” products.

— Anriy, in Your opinion, what is the way of ice cream market development in Ukraine for the nearest future? Would there be fundamental changes, latest tendencies?

— Since we are trying to keep step with Europe, in my opinion, changes would be in new products’ presentation; they would fundamentally have effect upon health of ice cream consumers. I suppose that in the course of time, people would pay attention not only at taste but also at benefits for health, above all, it will concern children.

— One more question to You, as a professional in ingredients’ and flavor additives’ sphere, from Your point of view, what ice cream taste would be the most popular in the nearest season?

— In 2009 season, in my opinion, would be popular the following tastes: cheese with various fruit combinations, cherry-plum and Mirabelle plum, banana and muesli, pomegranate, biscuit with cookie crumbs, Capri caramel with caramel pieces, smoothie with high puree content, dessert ice cream parfait, fruit tea ice with peach taste, lemon and white tea and so on.

— And, finally, the traditional question — Your wishes?

— Finally I would like to wish to the “Rud” company reliable partners, devoted employees and, the essential, — grateful consumers!