In China, people are showing interest in Russian canned vegetables, according to Vitaliy Dulienko, the head of business development at "Uncle Vanya" Group, who spoke at a press briefing at the "Agroexport" national center dedicated to the results of agricultural product exports in the first half of the year.
Since the 1990s, "Uncle Vanya" Group has been involved in vegetable cultivation and canned vegetable production. The company has come a long way from an import business to a comprehensive enterprise. "Our export activities started eight years ago, after achieving significant success in the domestic market and becoming a leader in our segment. During this time, we have sold products in 25 countries," Dulienko noted.
In China, "Uncle Vanya" Group entered the market in 2019 with the first container shipment. "During the pandemic, our business received a boost due to our product's three-year shelf life," the top manager explained. Last year, 50 containers of products were shipped to China. Pickled cucumbers are particularly popular there, shared Dulienko. Currently, the company is in the process of finalizing contracts with two more Chinese partners.
Markets with such significant consumer demand as China, especially in the food sector, are of particular interest, especially in the conditions of sanctions. "This country is our number one priority," Dulienko emphasized. The company expects that cooperation with China will continue in the future. "We must seek new opportunities, including in Chinese provinces where we have not yet operated, and look for other products, in addition to cucumbers, for supplies to China," he said, adding that the "Uncle Vanya" plant has sufficient capacity to increase volumes and diversify supplies.
According to Dulienko, the recipe for the cucumbers supplied to China has remained almost unchanged. "We have only added a new SKU with chili pepper - for regions where spicy dishes are popular, such as Sichuan," he said. He also noted that not all components allowed in Russia are accepted in China, so some manufacturers looking to supply products to this market may need to make changes to the recipe.
