A USAID PPES Success Story - Turkovic highland, pasture-raised meat from Sandzak goes international
sreda, 08 septembar 2010 09:36
Sjenica, September 8, 2010 – When Sjenica-based fresh and smoked meat producer Turkovic contracted with the Turkish Meat and Fish Corporation (EBK) to export 600 tons of raw veal it doubled the company’s export sales and marked the largest meat export contract in Serbia’s history.
The contract was negotiated during the July visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Signed on August 30, the business deal increases Turkovic’s exports sales to 40% of its annual veal production.
Sjenica, September 8, 2010 – When Sjenica-based fresh and smoked meat producer Turkovic contracted with the Turkish Meat and Fish Corporation (EBK) to export 600 tons of raw veal it doubled the company’s export sales and marked the largest meat export contract in Serbia’s history.
The contract was negotiated during the July visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Signed on August 30, the business deal increases Turkovic’s exports sales to 40% of its annual veal production.
Turkovic Leads Regional Expansion of the Sandzak Meat Industry
Turkovic is one of the 137 companies to receive training and technical assistance from USAID’s PPES Program. To support its ambitious plans to help Serbian businesses in the country’s two most economically challenged regions -- South Serbia and Sandzak -- the Economy Security Team of PPES provided management, marketing planning and sales training. In 2009, the company received additional USAID support to attend Pristina’s AgroKos Food Fair and enter Kosovo market; the same kind of trade fair attendance support will be provided in 2010/2011 to support Turkovic’s market expansion into Bosnia and Herzegovina. The expansion will be supported by the new and updated branding solutions provided through USAID business support activities.
Turkovic started as a small, family business in 1994 with two employees and 10 farmers supplying beef to markets in Sjenica and neighboring municipalities. Today, the company employs more than 50 people full time, purchases products from hundreds of local farmers and increased sales by more than 75% in the past two years. In the last two years the company almost doubled its revenues from $4.45 million in 2007 to $7.83 million in 2009. The company produces 3,000 tons of fresh meat annually and another 163 tons of other meat products. Turkovic sells its products through major retail grocery chains throughout Serbia – and soon Turkey!
Environment Friendly Innovation
As part of the business plan developed by Turkovic with the technical assistance of USAID's Economic Security team, the company plans to expand its production into 100% organically grown beef. It started small, with a 100 hectare (247 acres) local farm, to carefully monitor animal conditions. The company hopes to obtain certification this year in order to bring organic products to market in 2011. In addition, the company recently obtained credit to purchase a new, nearly zero-emissions incinerator. Once installed, Turkovic will be only the second company in the Balkans to adopt the highest current E.U. standard for waste disposal and will be doing its part to protect the quality of Sjenica’s highland air. The company holds important international certificates ISO 22000, HACCP and HALAL
In 2009 the company won the “Best from Serbia” Local Brand award for its veal products.
For More Information:
USAID PPES Business Support Activity
(please contact our Communications Office):
www.scopes-serbia.org/index.php/en/contactus
Turkovic Meat:
www.turkovic.com
United States Agency for International Development - Mission in Serbia
http://Serbia.usaid.gov
Other Relevant Links:
Municipality of Sjenica
www.sjenica.com
The Turkish Meat and Fish Corporation:
www.ebk.gov.tr
Sandzak Economic Development Agency:
www.seda.org