Development and Innovation

Joint Stock Company “Starooskolsky Bakery Plant” is one of the leaders in the Russian milling industry. Being a member of Stoylenskaya Niva Agricultural Corporation, it is one of the largest processors of agricultural products in the Belgorod Region.

The plant began its business activity in 1988. During these years, the company has accumulated a wide expertise in manufacture of grain mill products and fodder, as well as bakery products. The daily capacity of the mill is 620 ton of grain. AO “Starooskolsky Bakery Plant” markets its varied product range (over 30 items) throughout Russia and exports flour in other countries such as the USA, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia. 

In spite of today’s difficult situation, the plant continues to develop and to expand its portfolio. For example, an innovation called “Pizza Mix” was launched in 2020, and development of a “Vitamin and mineral fortified flour” started in 2021 in line with the UN World Food Programme. The Starooskolsky flour brings good luck in every home!

Joint Stock Company “Starooskolsky Bakery Plant” is a member of the Russian Union of Flour Mills and Cereal Plants, of the Russian Grain Union and of technical committees of the Federal Technical Regulation and Metrology Agency.

The plant is currently increasing its production rate, while particular emphasis is still put on quality. Online monitoring is carried out at each production stage. Release of the products meeting the international requirements is ensured by the quality and safety management system certified in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 22000. 

The high quality of the company products is honored every year with prestigious awards at competitions and international fairs. The enterprise has been repeatedly awarded an honorary title “The best mill of Russia”.

The technical aspect is also not left behind — the production equipment of the plant is being updated and automatized in a stepwise manner. 

“We celebrate the World Flour Day on March 20 already for the second time”, reports Sergey Kutepov, Executive Director of AO “Starooskolsky Bakery Plant”. “Our employees were greatly inspired by the introduction of a new professional day and we congratulate all the millers of the world on this event!”

Bringing a little smile to the faces of the people working on the frontline of the pandemic in Mumbai.

Creating exceptional cakes is our way of life, and our customers and partners are the focus of everything that we do. By acting in the best interest of everyone along our value chain, we are able to ensure our company’s sweet success. We use only the finest ingredients for our products, ensuring that the goods we send out into the market are of the utmost quality. With any product, real flavour comes from high quality ingredients, and in baking cakes, flour certainly is one of the central ingredients.

While our production includes a highly-customized, automated system, this does not lessen the importance of the human touch, while still adhering to strict quality control measures at every stage of production, packaging, and delivery. Without our dedicated, skilled, and loyal team members, we would not be where we are today.

Our journey began with one humble shop in Fort, Mumbai in early 1956 and grew to over one thousand locations throughout India under the inspiring vision of our founder, Hussein Khorakiwala. Since then, our family has combined their years of experience with the vision of a community of collaborative shop owners, suppliers and other partners working together to create a brand name in the market and grow their business to what it is today. In order to achieve this, the family offers franchises to budding entrepreneurs & distributors, partnering with them to ensure success and excellence.

The Covid pandemic certainly hit Mumbai as well, and we needed to reorganise our work in shifts to ensure safety for all employees. We also provided food for our employees during the lockdown, along with periodic medical checkups to ensure safety and wellbeing for everyone. One of our additional initiatives was to provide the police with cake. They are the frontline workers working round the clock, whose role has been pivotal in these difficult times. Hence, we wanted to bring a little smile to their faces with this small gesture, which was very well appreciated by them.

Through challenges and difficulties to success.

Kirov’s Mill is the leading flour milling enterprise in Russia and the largest mill in Europe. Today the company produces more than 40 types of special-purpose flours, as well as semolina, grist, bran and flaked grain. The mill can process up to 1,650 tons of grain per day.

Looking back on the year 2020, it can be said that it was one of the most difficult and unpredictable for almost all industries, including ours. But it’s not the first time Kirov’s Mill has faced and successfully mastered serious difficulties.

The company was built in 1939 and faced a tough challenge three years later during the 900 day blockade. The mill workers defended their city and its people. They continued their vital and honorable work. Some workers starved to death, even though they had access to wheat and flour. 

In January 1942, when the granaries in the city were completely empty, the mill was idle, but still in use. Due to its advantageous location it was used as fire boundary for the city and a shield protecting the inhabitants in the adjacent areas.

On 13 July 1945, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Leningrad Kirov’s Mill was awarded the Order of Lenin.

For 80 years we have focused on the production of high-quality products tailored to customer-specific requirements. This allowed Kirov’s Mill to stay a leader in the milling industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is probably not a single company which has not been affected by this pandemic and the associated restrictions. In addition, the milling industry faced an even tougher situation due to the uncontrolled rise in grain prices because of record high exports. Between January and December 2020 prices rose by 30% for 3^rd and 4^th grade wheat, leading to an increase in the price of flour.

Against this backdrop, we noted a downward trend in the domestic market in demand for the short shelf life pastry goods in HoReCa, wholesale and distribution. Even more problematic was the export situation. Due to the pandemic, deliveries to importing countries were restricted – ports were closed and border traffic was blocked, and from March to September 2020 a strict import ban for flour was imposed.

We had to adapt to this situation, and worked to reduce costs, boost our technological flexibility and extend the product range, always taking the pulse of our customers.

Over the past year, fermented flour, fortified flour, affordable flour (for people with low incomes), and health and lifestyle products like whole meal and whole grain flour were launched.

We have formed a business development strategy for the domestic and export markets. It comprises the extension of the list of countries and regions to cooperate with, marketing new special flours, making long-term contracts with existing customers and searching for new customers.

A time of crisis is a time of opportunities, and it is important to leverage them.

Our advantages today:

• Russian market leader, with flour export to more than 20 countries.
• The production is compliant with the International Food Safety Standard FSSC 22000.
• Own technology competence & training centre with 10 years of experience in bakery & confectionary.
• Guaranteed stable quality of tailor-made products.

The Timur movement

Kirov’s Mill doesn’t just produce socially significant products, but is also socially committed. The Kirov’s Mill team supports the Timur movement. Through this unique movement, employees support the disadvantaged citizens of Saint Petersburg in many important matters, like renovating apartments of low-income families, housecleaning for single seniors, veterans and other vulnerable groups. Thus, members take matters into their own hands and help those in need.

Cuáles han sido sus experiencias y contribuciones como trabajadores de esta industria durante la pandemia?