This month we are bringing you an interview with Mr. Bostjan Kozole, Evrosad Group’s owner, one of the biggest partner in whole Europe. The partnership between Valente and Evrosad began a long time ago and for us is a huge pleasure to talk about this historical key-company.
Fruit growing has a long and rich tradition due to the remarkable natural features of Posavje, which is especially true for the municipality of Krško. Company Evrosad d.o.o. Krško started actively doing business on January 1st, 1996 after it was bought from an agricultural company Mercator – Agrokombinat Krško d.o.o..
In a business plan there were set very ambitious and daring plans, in accordance with the known facts and with the conditions that were given. “Today,” – says Mr. Kozole “we produce around 10.000 tons of fruit on about 220 HA of net surfaces.”
In a connection to company Evrosad d.o.o. Krško the company Sadjarstvo Blanca d.o.o. was established in September 2000. Company annually produce is around 3.200 tonnes of fruit per 95 HA of net area, and production is expected to increase further. Company Sadjarstvo Ormož d.o.o. is an integral part of the group from autumn 2011, with the current area of 115 HA, the net yield is over 4.000 tons.
Futhermore, for more than 10 years there is established good cooperation with fruit growers from the Posavje and in recent years also from all over Slovenia.
“All of these people together form the Evrosad Group. Produced fruit in our own production and bought from our contracted producers are both sold under the unified brand Evrosad.” In the group we produce about 20.000 tonnes a year. Buyers of Evrosad products are mainly large-scale retail chains and specialized wholesalers with fruit and vegetables.
Today Evrosad represents over one third of Slovenian fruit production. Products, especially apples, are present in European markets, Dubai and in Middle East. In accordance with market requirements, Evrosad have obtained the Global G.A.P., Tesco Nurture and BRC (Global Standard for Food Safety) standard.
Because of demanding Western European markets we have recovered over the years many areas with new varieties that are now fully fertile. It is mainly varieties of Royal Gala, Breaburn and Granny Smith. This created good conditions for sale on the highly demanding market of England, where we find Evrosad’s apples in their most famous retail chains Tesco, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Morrison’s. Among the more important are the markets of Scandinavia, Middle East and Africa.
In Evrosad group there is 150 employees. “We completely depend on nature and current number of employees is the result of two unfortunate years of complete frost. We hope that good years are also coming for us, so we will be able to bring to the company a fresh wind of young talented people who have modern knowledge and new technology ideas”, adds Mr. Kozole.
For many years they have been specialized only in producing apples, pears and peaches, but now Evrosad is introducing some new varieties. They are working with us on the “cherry project”, which is about anti-hail covering and anti-rain film.
“We and Valente have met in 2006 through Mr. Milivoj Širca from company Karsia d.o.o., who was back then representing company Valente in Slovenia. From then we have been successfully cooperating. Our cooperation is much more than just business cooperation, through many years working together we have developed a special relationship with Alessandro Valente and Cristian Ferrari” continues Mr. Kozole.
Beside several providers on the market at that time, “the Valente’s solutions were always one step ahead of others and the most important, the quality of their material was/is at a high level. This is also confirmed by the present condition of our orchards, where during all these years despite the bad weather, we did not have any problems. We bought many anti-hail systems for apples, pears and peaches in the area of 250 HA. If we have “problems” Valente is always promptly successfully solving them.”
Some of our new solutions:
– technical solutions for anchoring of whole system (factory-made braided loops, different anchor tensioners for easier operation, etc.);
– combs for fastening the net to the longitudinal wire instead of sewing;
– use of double pillars (9,5 x 9,5) instead of just one thicker (14 x 14).
“All these innovations are carried out well also because of the excellent team of assembly workers of Mr. Slaven Bošnjak from Croatia”, specifies Mr. Kozole. “Absolutely good technical solutions, superb assembly and excellent material. All this is convincing us for more than 12 years that they are worthy of our trust. That is why we are preparing together new projects on about 30 HA”, concludes Mr. Kozole.
Our Export Manager, Mr. Cristian Ferrari adds: “we are proud to be the official supplier of Evrosad Company for twelve years, it is the perfect example of a successful company which stands out for its way to do business, always aiming to high quality standards. Their orchards, their forefront facilities, their high-level production are the result of a correct and winning philosophy started from Mr. Ivan Kozole and carried on by his son Bostjan. In Bostjan I can see a really successful and correct business man, a big friend and great and unique person, professionally and humanly speaking.”
