Вакансія: Market expansion сonsultant for meat and milk processor, Sievierodonetsk

The Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) promotes the development of a resilient, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy in eastern Ukraine. ERA empowers eastern Ukrainians to establish and grow micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in promising economic sectors, to innovate, and to expand to new markets across Ukraine, the European Union (EU), and other new international markets. ERA emphasizes the inclusion of internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, young adults, Roma, veterans, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups among its beneficiaries to ensure that they also share in the region’s economic success. ERA is also working with local and regional stakeholders to define a viable vision for the future of the region’s economy.

ERA’s work is centered on three pillars:

1. 1. Inclusion: building the capabilities of vulnerable populations to capitalize on entrepreneurial and MSME economic opportunities;
2. Growth: helping micro, small, and medium businesses innovate, invest, and expand markets; and
3. Transformation: working with coalitions and leaders to articulate a vision for the future and put in place a modern, diverse, and SME-friendly economy.

ERA has initiated a special initiative to support private sector efforts to develop “direct to consumer” (D2C) retail opportunities for farmers, beekeepers and food products SMEs in the government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and the Azov region of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 

About the job

The consultant will assist the company “Agrofirm Pryvillia” in Troitske Raion of Luhansk Oblast (see company description below) to address the problem of inadequate end markets for its milk and meat products. At present, the company has retail locations in the towns of Pryvillia and Troitske (raion center), Sievierodonetsk (oblast center) and Kyiv, but this sales network allows for using only 30% of its meat and milk processing capacity. The distance of Troitske Raion from its main markets is one complicating factor. Under current circumstances the meat and milk component of Agrofirm Pryvillia needs to be subsidized by the company’s grain and oilseed operations, and serves more of a social function to maintain employment in the community of Pryvillia.

The company would like to improve sales of meat and milk by 40% over the next year and make the operation self-sustainable or profitable.

The consultant will identify economically viable options for expanding the sales network for Agrofirm Pryvyillia’s meat and milk products (as well as auxiliary fruit and vegetable products), taking into consideration the following factors:

• The company’s production capacity and possible product assortment;
• Different models of retail sale, including kiosks, small stores, online sales, home delivery, etc.;
• Consumer purchasing power in studied communities (see list below);
• Various marketing approaches

The consultant will coordinate in the implementation of this analysis with the ERA Local Produce Realization Specialist and Economic Resilience Strategy Lead.

Your  duties and responsibilities will be:

Information on Agrofirm Pryvillia

Agrofirm Pryvillia was established in 2003 on the basis of the former Pryvillia collective farm in Troitske Raion in northern Luhansk Oblast.

The main management directions are grain, oilseed and vegetable production, orchards (apple and pear) and animal husbandry. The area under tilled crops is 9700 hectares. The livestock are fed and hay grown on the company’s territory. 

The apple and pear harvest is kept in storage facilities until April-May of the following year.  

Milk production is the main animal husbandry activity. At present there are 400 milking cows (Ukrainian Spotted Reds) with milk yield per cow at 5700 kg. The company’s milking hall can accommodate 28 cows simultaneously. The company has its own milk processing plant for producing hard cheeses, butter and casein.  

Pryvillia also produces beef, pork and mutton products from its own slaughterhouse and processing facility. The following types of boiled sausages are produced: “Likarska”, Pryvillia brand recipe, “Liubitelska,” Extra and hot dogs, and the following types of smoked sausages: Pryvillia brand recipe, “Shinka Prezidentska,” Kharkiv salami.

Agrofirm Pryvillia employes around 300 people in its crop production, animal husbandry and food processing facilities.