About company „Pieno žvaigždės“

ABOUT US

Company AB „Pieno žvaigždės“, founded in 1998, is the biggest and the most modern milk-processing company in the Baltic states.

At present it unites the following milk – processing companies: Mažeikiai dairy, Kaunas dairy, Pasvalys cheese-making plant and runs the company AB „Panevėžio pienas“.

Not only do we try to manufacture fresh, healthy and good products, but we also support the Lithuanian National Olympic Committee. We help our sportsmen and sportswomen to achieve their victories. Moreover, we take part in eecology projects, promoting utilization of the used packaging which is useful to people and does not harm nature.

The vision of this company is to become a modern manufacturing and management company that holds strong positions in the Baltic market and receives permanent and long-term profit.

The mission of this company is to manufacture only the highest quality dairy products that are free of preservatives and that would guarantee healthy nutrition and, at the same time, would make the food preparation pprocess much easier.

The slogan of the company is „Dairy products for healthy life“!

The company „Pieno žvaigždės“ is one of the biggest food manufacturers in the Baltic countries. In the local market, the company is known for its dairy products: mmilk, fermented milk, butter, and cream, various types of curd, yogurts, milk deserts and enzyme cheese.

The major share of the exported products is comprised of semi-dry enzyme cheese, butter, dry separated milk and whey milk powder. At present, the greatest amount of products is being exported to the European Union and Baltic countries, Russia, CIS, Japan and the USA.

At present companies under the company „Pieno žvaigždės“ manufacture products of more than 500 different names. With regard to the European tendencies and the ever changing needs of customers we constantly renew our product range and offer our customers new products every year. Companies are constantly modernised and the latest technologies, the most modern manufacturing and packaging equipment, quality laboratories are being iinstalled. In order to deliver the products made to supermarkets and consumers in the shortest time, systems of product ordering, transportation and storage are under constant modernisation.

In the year 2002, the company and separate companies running under the company were granted ISO quality certificates. Therefore, we are obliged to work efficiently, guaranteeing the high quality of the products manufactured.

As the company „Pieno žvaigždės“ is constantly introducing new products, it is often called the „dairy fashion dictator“. In the markets of LLithuania, Baltic countries and Russia the following trademarks are popular and favoured: DVARAS (the family of natural pasteurised milk products), BIOS (the family of products with bifido-bacteria), MŪ (milk in aseptic packaging), SMILGA (premium deserts and yogurt group), MŪSŲ (the most popular and varied product group), BIOLA (pro-biotic drink with Lactase bacteria), OKTAVA (fresh cream ice-cream), JO (the most popular yogurt in the local market), SVALIA (semi-dry enzyme cheese, the main among the products exported).

Nutrition specialists appreciate products of this company for their quality, taste and novelty. Since the establishment of the company „Pieno žvaigždės“, the specialists look into the future and work as a harmonious family. They create a better and healthier life for their customers, partners, country and themselves.

Branch „Kauno pienas“

In the year 2000 reconstruction started in the branch of AB „Pieno žvaigždės“ „Kauno pienas“. Substantial renovation was taking place – from the department of milk reception to the product packaging lines. All manufacturing shops were renewed, novel product preparation, manufacturing and packaging lines were installed, reconstruction of facilities for manufacturing new products was made, modern laboratory equipment for testing dairy products were obtained. The investments into restructuring of the plant amounted to LTL 30 000 0000.

In the year 2003 reconstruction of the branch of „Pieno žvaigždės“ company „Kauno pienas“ was over and presently technologies used in it are among the most modern in Europe .

Modern equipment uses as well as technologies employed enable to manufacture fresh high quality products having long selling terms without using any chemical additives.

In the year 2001 a system of analysis of risk factors at the most important points of management was introduced. It may be regarded as the first stage of implementing a contemporary quality management system. Standard ISO 9001 has been implemented in „Kauno pienas“ in the year 2002. The number of employees of „Kauno pienas“ amounts to 840 persons.

Production capacity of the plant – 165 tons of milk per shift and monthly turnover amounts to LTL 7 million. Consumer is offered 150 titles of products which may be divided into 12 groups: milk, skimmed milk – based drinks, yogurts and yogurt – based drinks, cream, butter, curd, Lithuanian cheese, coated cheese, melted cheese, deserts, etc.

Manufacturing and offering the consumers such dairy products which, by their quality and price, correspond to their expectations is the most important goal the branch of AB „Pieno žvaigždės“ &– company „Kauno pienas“.

Branch „Mažeikių pieninė“

With the development of milk- based economy a necessity to organise milk collection, processing and sales institutions emerged. Establishment of milk – processing industries on co – operation basis started. Companies „Lietūkis“ and „Gamintojas“ (Šiauliai) were among the first to establish co – operative dairies. Similarly, on co – operative basis, in the year 1926 at the crossing of Tirkšliai and Seda streets a dairy of Mažeikiai belonging to Mažeikiai Co – operation Union was founded. Already in the year 1936 the dairy was capable of buying – up 1300 tones of milk annually.

Until October 12, 1948 the dairy of Mažeikiai was owned by the company „Pieno Centras“and later on – by „Masloprom“. Beginning with January 1, 1951 butter plant of Mažeikiai used to belong to Klaipėda region Butter – cheese manufacturing trust, from January 1, 1954 – to Šiauliai Butter – cheese manufacturing trust and later on – to Šiauliai Milk center. In the process of amalgamation of butter manufacturing plants attached to the dairy of Mažeikiai were dairies of Laižuva ( 1952), dairy of Lūšė (1955) and dairy of Seda, the amalgamated company turning into Mažeikiai Central butter manufacturing plant.

At

the beginning of the year 1972, from old premises situated at the crossing of Tirkšliai and Seda streets, the plant was transferred to a new building situated in the north – west part of the town, at the beginning of Skuodas street . Designed capacity of the plant was to process 70 tones of milk per day. Beginning with July 1, 1976 the Central butter manufacturing plant separated from Šiauliai Milk center turning into Mažeikiai Butter manufacturing plant and becoming ddirectly subject to the Ministry of meat and milk of the Lithuanian SSR. The manufacturing area of the plant included two shops in Mažeikiai and in Akmenė. Later on, beginning with April 1, 1977 , amalgamated to it was dairy of Skuodas, which formerly belonged to Klaipėda Milk center.

Within the period 1977 – 1978 a reconstruction of the plant took place processing capacities reaching 110 tones of milk. In the years 1982 – 1983 butter manufacturing shop was reconstructed, iinstalling two Germany – made FBFS type continuously operating butter manufacturing lines having capacity of 2 tons of butter per hour. Reconstruction of milk powder manufacturing shop took place in 1983. After reconstruction processing capacity of the plant reached 150 ttones of milk per day. Beginning with the year 1990 the Butter manufacturing plant was turned into Mažeikiai State milk processing enterprise under Committee for Agriculture and Industry. In the year 1991 the first Alpha – Laval separation line was assembled in it. Until 1993 individual milk manufacturers, companies and economies of Akmenė, Skuodas and Mažeikiai districts were the main suppliers of raw material. The biggest amount of milk – 140 230 tones was bought up in the year 1990. The products made then included 4 653 of butter, 220 tones of cheese, 25 736 tones of full – cream dairy products, 40 096 tones of milk powder. After restoration of independence of Lithuania in 1991, when mass liquidation of ccollective farms started a sudden drop of bought – up milk was observed.

After partial privatisation of Mažeikiai State processing enterprise in 1993, it was, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on industrial enterprises of the Republic of Lithuania , reorganized into Mažeikiai State stock dairy. The smallest amount of milk – 58 093 tones was bought up 1994. In 1993 a reconstruction of milk powder manufacturing shop installing new GEA WYGAND vacuum apparatuses was made. Under the iinfluence of market laws the scope and geography of the products sold became more extensive. Previously sold in Akmenė, Skuodas and Mažeikiai districts and in the CIS countries the sales of Mažeikiai products expanded into the whole territory of Lithuania . Export of milk powder to Japan, Holland , Denmark , Finland and other countries began.

On October 13, 1994 the company name AB „Mažeikiai dairy“ was registered with the State Patent bureau. In the year 1995 named „Mažeikių dairy“ (on April 19,1995 it was included into the Company Register and the by – laws of it were approved). The volume of production started growing up and the quality of it improved. Manufactured in the year 1995 were 1 852 tones of butter, 185 tones of cheese, 12 579 tones of full – cream milk products, 3 536 tones of milk powder. The number of employees from 490 in the year 1990 grew up to over 600 in 1996. In 1996 construction of own boiler – house was finished because the old one belonging to bankrupting AB „Oruva“ was not able to satisfy ever increasing demands of the plant and was hampering normal process of production. Two 6 tones per hhour capacity Finnish steam boilers were installed in it.

A resolution to increase stock capital of the plant by LTL 6 million and all package of shares to transfer to the company Agrolitas Imex Lesma was passed by the sitting of the Board on April 18, 1997.

The sitting of the Board of August 22, 1997 passed a resolution to buy a bankrupting company AB „Tauragės pieninė“. On May 1, 2001 the shop in Tauragė which after amalgamation with cheese – manufacturing plant in Pasvalys became irrelevant was given over to AB „Vilkyškių pieninė“.

In spring of the year 1998, when the transport fleet increased to 200 units a transport facility in Tirkšliai was obtained.

On December 31, 1998, after voluntary amalgamation of two independent companies – AB „Mažeikių pieninė“ and AB „Pasvalio sūrinė“ company AB „Pieno žvaigždės“ as well as a branch of it „Mažeikiai dairy“ comprising shops in Skuodas and Akmenė was registered.

The face of the company and the branch of it in Mažeikiai is changing from day to day: reconstruction of the shops is taking place, more advanced technology is being implemented. In the year 2002 a new computerised line for washing equipment TETRA ALCIP was iinstalled and at the beginning of 2003 a new department for the manufacturing of separated curd started functioning. Similar changes have taken place in milk pouring department. Beginning with June 1, 2003 a sales division situated in Vilnius and in October a sales division in Klaipėda separated from the Branch. In the course of de – centralization of manufacturing milk products and after re – distribution of milk collection zones the distances of delivery of milk products reduced as well as related milk collection costs. After reconstruction of the previously not used building for the manufacturing of milk mixes in the year 2004 a block for technical services was opened. Reconstruction of butter manufacturing department is taking place in 2004 and reconstruction curd manufacturing department and of the warehouses is planned.

Branch „Panevėžio pienas“

Stock company „Panevėžio pienas“ has long – lasting traditions of manufacturing dairy products. The first dairy in Panevėžys was established in 1942 and in the year 1995 it turned into a stock company. It ranks as one of the biggest and most modern plants for the processing of dairy products in the country. Every year a certain part of the funds is channelled for renovation and modernization of

facilities and premises yet the biggest share of investments is used for purchasing the newest equipment and advanced technologies.

To satisfy the needs of consumers and to manufacture high quality safe dairy products is the goal of the company. Working under market conditions and seeking to expand the volume of sales of the products manufactured it is necessary to assure and constantly improve their quality as well as to create novel and singling – out ones. To this end as eearly as in the year 1997 implementation of system of analysis of risk factors at the most important points of management started. Presently the above system is completely implemented. In the year 2003 a specificative audit was made and the company was certified in accordance with the requirements of quality management system ISO 9001.