H&N named the conditions for the development of the food industry

For the sustainable development of the Russian food industry, investments in the technological base, production flexibility and consumer orientation are needed, said Yakub Zakriev, CEO of Health & Nutrition (H&N), a major dairy producer.

According to him, automation in food production has grown from 38% to 50% in five years, and the use of digital solutions can increase labor productivity by 70%. "We plan to invest more than 400 million rubles in automation alone in the next two years," Zakriev emphasized, speaking at the Food Security of Russia session organized by H&N: challenges and Strategies" at the SPIEF.

During the forum, the company signed agreements with the heads of the Samara, Kurgan and Moscow regions totaling more than 5 billion rubles.

In the Samara region, H&N will build a plant for the production of herbal drinks with a capacity of up to 17 thousand tons per year. This project is designed to meet the needs of consumers.: Today, about 25% of the Russian population is interested in reducing sugar consumption. "We see herbal drinks not as a fashionable craze, but as a steady trend in nutrition," Zakriev explained.

The Shadrinsky dairy plant is being modernized in the Kurgan Region with a total investment of 3.75 billion rubles until 2028. 550 million rubles will be invested in 2025. The project includes equipment upgrades, process automation, and the launch of new product lines.
In the Moscow region, H&N is expanding production at a dairy plant in Chekhov.

Production capacities will increase, the whey thickening system will be upgraded, automatic palletizers and robotic lines will be introduced.

At the SPIEF, H&N presented the results of the first export contract with the UAE. In June, the company shipped a trial batch of dairy products to this country. It is planned to export up to 150 tons by the end of the year.

Speaking at the "Made in Russia" session, Ruslan Alisultanov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of H&N, noted that export today is not just the sale of goods, but the promotion of a cultural code. "We export trust, lifestyle and values, including family values," he said. Alisultanov stressed that the volume of dairy exports from Russia has grown from $260 million to $438 million in seven years.

H&N said that the spaces of the Prostokvashino cafe and the Planto smoothie bar became one of the most visited at the SPIEF, being included in the selection of the best stands. In total, more than 18 thousand people tasted the company's products at the forum, and more than 3 tons of yoghurts, curds, and cheeses were distributed to forum visitors.