By KYIV. Nov 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Leading Ukrainian manufacturer of pet food Kormotech will expand production in Kėdainiai (Lithuania), invest more than EUR 60 million in four production lines, which will be put into operation during 2025-2028, the company’s press service has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“Lithuania is now our window to the world. Our plant in Kėdainiai has become a reliable support for us – it always operates at full capacity, whereas in Ukraine we have to take into account the risks of shutdowns due to war. We strive to further expand our capacity in Lithuania, building four additional production lines by 2028,” Rostyslav Vovk, CEO and co-owner of Kormotech, said.
Kormotech launched its first overseas plant in Kėdainiai in Lithuania in 2020. Currently, more than 170 specialists from Ukraine and Lithuania work in the production of wet food with an annual capacity of more than 20,000 tonnes.
“Our successful experience of construction and work in Lithuania, favorable conditions in the free economic zone, the support of Invest Lithuania and our well-established network of partners and suppliers led us to the decision to expand the enterprise,” Vovk said.
Kormotech plans to launch the first new production line by 2025, adding a line each year until four production lines are fully operational in 2028. As the expansion project progresses, the company will be interested in finding qualified engineers, technologists and other highly specialized specialists in both Ukraine and Lithuania. With the new expansion project, Kormotech will double its current headcount in Lithuania, adding 200 new jobs over five years.
According to Elijus Čivilis, CEO of the Lithuanian state agency Invest Lithuania, Kormotech’s expansion shows that Lithuania is open to foreign investors and creates a truly favorable environment for them.
“In Kėdainiai, Kormotech has built a modern, highly automated plant, staffed by local specialists of various competencies. The company’s decision to expand its capacity and double its team size shows the quality of both the local business infrastructure and talent,” Čivilis said.
In Ukraine, Kormotech is constantly expanding its production capacity. During 2022-2023, the company invested approximately $14 million to modernize dry food production and expand wet food production by almost 70%.
“We plan to build new production facilities in Ukraine immediately after the end of the war,” Vovk said.
