EFKO Group is beginning the expansion of capacities at the plant on the Taman production site. EFKO's Director for Strategic Development, Vladislav Romantsev, signed the corresponding investment agreement with the administration of Krasnodar Krai.

The facility has already introduced a shea nut processing technology that is unique to Russia. EFKO collaborates directly with suppliers in West Africa and successfully addresses import substitution for a high-tech ingredient - cocoa butter equivalent. It is in demand in the confectionery industry, as it enables a wider variety of fillings and helps chocolate and glaze flavors remain consistent — regardless of seasonal changes in cocoa bean quality.

During the implementation of the agreement, the plant's production capacity will double and will amount to 25 thousand tons of cocoa butter equivalents per year.

"In the early 2000s, imported products occupied the Russian market for confectionery food ingredients. The share of imports was between 70% and 100%. Today, 95% of such ingredients in Russia are local. EFKO's technologies have learned to produce absolutely many oil and fat products ahead of existing global safety standards. These range from complex filling fats and their production components to ingredients for baby food and cocoa butter equivalents. With the launch of the plant's second phase in Taman, we will practically fully cover the needs of the EAEU countries in these ingredients," Vladislav Romantsev, EFKO's Director for Strategic Development, explained.

"We highly value the long-term partnership with the EFKO company. Today, the facility successfully addresses import substitution and sets high standards in the food industry. The expansion of production in Taman means new jobs, additional investments in the regional economy, and strengthening of Kuban's position as one of the country's leading industrial regions," Alexander Ruppel, Deputy Governor of Krasnodar Krai, noted.

The estimated investment in the project is 5.8 billion rubles. 200 new jobs will be created during its implementation