Success stories of Oschad customers: experience of a goat farm producing Zinka craft cheeses
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In the small village of Usivka in the Kyiv region, craft cheeses are produced that are as good as French and Italian ones. The village is home to the family farm “Tetiana-2011,” where Alpine and Zaanen breeding goats have been bred for almost a decade. The company even participates in international exhibitions of goat milk products. It produces more than 50 types of products under the Zinka trademark: butter, sour cream, yogurt, and cheeses - soft, hard, semi-hard, with mold, with herbs, etc.
The recipes are developed according to the tastes of the Ukrainian consumer. Thus, the brand's cheeses do not have a specific taste and smell, which is influenced by several factors, ranging from animal husbandry to the choice of equipment and cooking technologies. Today, Zinka products have their own fans and are sold not only in branded stores but also in large supermarket chains.
This company is a longtime partner of Oschadbank and has been receiving comprehensive support from the financial institution for many years. As part of the new project “Success Stories of Oschad's Customers,” we are telling you about the “Tetiana-2011” farm.
Market leader in goat breeding
Entrepreneur Vasyl Tsvyk started farming back in 2011 when he set up a farm named after his daughter. For a long time, he was engaged in crop production and gardening, but later decided to take up animal husbandry and processing of animal products. He chose a niche free of competitors and bought 300 goats. He started processing milk with 500 liters per day.
"In 2016, there was only a field and two sheds on the site of our farm. But thanks to funding from Oschad, we built full-fledged production facilities here, and the farm began to live," says Vita Tsvyk, deputy head of the farm.
Vasyl actively implemented European dairy farming methods, adapting them to Ukrainian realities. He began selling the products under the Zinka brand, a typical name chosen by Ukrainian villagers for their goats.
The farm currently has about 2,200 hectares of land and a 6-hectare apple orchard. The livestock numbers about 3,600 animals, and the farm's capacity allows it to process 5 tons of milk per shift. All production processes on the farm are automated to the maximum extent possible thanks to the most modern Swiss and Israeli equipment.
"Our farm is interesting and unique because it is a multi-sectoral and family-run business. Today, this is a rather unusual story for Ukraine, so we are the first in this field," says Vasyl Tsvyk.
Cooperation, grants, and support
The company owes its success in no small part to funding from Oschadbank.
"Oschadbank supports any of our ideas, and we work closely together to implement them. We not only receive loans from the bank but also participate in government programs. For example, we recently received a grant for recycling. We also have a milking parlor equipped thanks to Oschadbank," says Vita Tsvyk.
Vasyl Tsvyk adds that he has not had any misunderstandings during the entire period of cooperation with the bank:
“The foundation of our interaction is a human attitude and partnerships. They address our needs regarding a variety of topics, inform us about current programs, remind us to pay on time, and provide assistance. And most importantly, it all happens very quickly."
In the most difficult times for Ukrainian entrepreneurship, Oschadbank continues to support businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises. Last year alone, the total amount of loans disbursed amounted to about UAH 14 billion, which is UAH 3.3 billion more than in the previous year.
To effectively support businesses, the financial institution actively cooperates with the government and engages international financial institutions, such as the EBRD, EFSE, WNISEF, EIB, GIZ, and the Export Credit Agency. This allows for a reduced loan rate, simplified collateral requirements, and long-term financing with a grant component.
"Our strategic priority is to support those who rebuild and develop the Ukrainian economy every day. We are proud that Oschadbank has thousands of partners from among entrepreneurs. Their success stories include our share. We invite all companies to join us and build the future together - theirs and Ukraine's!" says Sergii Naumov, Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank.
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