The end of each year is the bottom line of the results produced, further opportunities and the pleasure of the completed work and confidence in new success. The company has every reason to be proud of its successful work in 2010. However, we keep working towards bigger goals and the preparation for the next season is well under way. Today Rud Petro Volodymyrovych, the head of the company, will tell us about the current year and about the prospects for the future.

Petro Volodymyrovych, 2010 was “burning” in all respects. How can you describe the current year which is drawing to a close?

“Zhytomyr butter plant”, PJSC has showed a positive consistent trend in output and selling rates for several years in a row. I’d like to accentuate that these tangible results have been achieved due to the group cohesion of our company notwithstanding the fact that half of all diary factories are loss-making and can hardly keep afloat. Zhytomyr butter plant has done a thorough preparation for 2010 and took the advantage of the market situation to increase its volumes of sales. The company performed its principal task to exceed the target figures, having sold more than 23 tons of ice-cream. I’d like to thank the employees of all subsections for their professionalism and fruitful work.

Petro Volodymyrovych, what do you think the future ice-cream market will be like in Ukraine?

The ice-cream market has seen the consolidation trend over the past few years which will still be on in 2011 to my mind. The small companies will have to phase down their production while the big ones will be drawing up future strategies for development. Producers have a lot of tasks to do now: it is necessary that the ice-cream culture consumption be developed, substitute products be forced out and diary industry positions be consolidated in the domestic market. It is important that all the companies shall be forced to be responsible for the products they make. Package labelling should be true to the actual ingredients of a product.

Petro Volodymyrovych, many companies, hit by the economic crisis, have cut down their welfare programmes. What do you think of it?

Under no circumstances should it happen I think. Employees are the front line of business. The wage-fund has increased by 22.5% this year, regular member of the staff’s average monthly wage has increased by 25%. To make this happen the employees have been encouraged financially and morally. Measureі are being taken to improve operating and work space conditions. Our employees and their children got the opportunity to improve their health at different health-treatment resorts and the best employees spent their holidays in Turkey. The corporate meetings and cultural events have been held and trips have been made this year.

Business development is impossible without up-to-date distribution. Petro Volodymyrovych, what do you think of your partners’ work in 2010?

Our distributors have got invaluable experience of products promotion in the severe market competition. The team of our partners is the staff of like-minded people who take up offers and who we run joint projects with. I’d like to thank our distributors for their efficacious work. However, we all know that only jointly can we oust our competitors and overcome market difficulties.

Every our company offers new sorts of ice-cream to customers. How do you rate novelties in 2010? And what products will be launched in the new production line?

Due to the work of our employees who closely collaborate with the ingredients and packaging suppliers, new products appear in the market every year. There have been introduced 19 new sorts of ice-cream, highly appraised by our distributing partners and ultimate consumers. Many experts of our company are active participants of the new ice-cream sorts’ development. The new line of production is to launch fruit ice in a new shape.

Petro Volodymyrovych, tell us a word or two on the strategic plans for the coming year.

There are usually a lot of plans and ideas as to the production first and foremost. The company expands its production capacity each year. Right now the experts are establishing a new manufacturing line that will have been put into operation by the beginning of the new season. We keep on working towards bigger goals and plan to expand and renew production for the future. I’d like to say that there can be a lot of the best ones, but the Leader can be only one. We’ll be doing our best to stay number one in the market!

May all your dreams and wishes come true in the New Year! I wish all of us a lot of positive energy, wise and sincere people on our way. May we be involved in various interesting events to make something new, bright and good. I wish you excellent health, peace and love!

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!