The FINANCIAL — Sweet country, the leading confectionery and producer of sweets in Georgia, is increasing the number of and widening product assortments in 2010.
“Our priority will be concentrating on the packaging of our products. This year we have started producing diabetic products, child and iodine cookies.
Moreover, our technological unit is systematically working on creating new types of production that are being improved and added to our product line,” said Nino Mamulashvili, General Director of Sweet Country.
The company was founded in 2005, in March 2006 it started functioning and has gained a significant market share in the industry. The company was a winner of Golden Brand 2009.
In her interview with The FINANCIAL Mamulashvili spoke about the company’s plans for the year 2010.
Q. How sweet was 2009 for Sweet Country?
A. This year was full of sweetness and bitterness in equal measures. Golden Brand, Quality Mark and other certificates that were indicators of our product quality and taste are considered the sweet part of the year. As for the bitter, the price of raw materials increased significantly and yet we had to sustain the same price.
Due to the global downturn the strategy of our production was changed and we started producing small size packaging. Moreover, we have bought new machinery and will increase the variety of our product assortment.
The sales of products increased in 2009, which I think is governed by the close of small industries.
However, despite an increase of sales, company profits have decreased due to an increase in the price of raw materials.
Q. What is the company planning for 2010?
A. We will probably increase the assortment of our small packaged products. Moreover, there will be an increase in the diabetic, iodine and children’s product segment, as well as new offers in production.
Q. Sweet Country offers 72 types of products to customers, which products are in highest demand?
A. It is quite hard to say which product has the highest sales as we are systematically improving them.
When the demand for a product decreases the product is withdrawn from the market.
The exception is in chocolate production, in which demand is higher in winter than in summer.
Q. Will the price of production change in the year 2010?
A. We managed to sustain prices when there was a significant increase in the price of sugar and raw materials. So, we will probably sustain the same product prices this year.
Q. What was the total number of Easter cakes produced for Easter weekend?
A. For Easter and Bright Week we produced up to 180,000 units, which is quite a solid number.
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