400 Million – that's how many dumplings “Vičiūnai Group” will produce this year
Dumplings are a popular dish in many countries around the world, invented over 1,800 years ago. In their homeland of China, they are called jiaozi, in Japan – gyoza, in Poland – pierogi, in South Korea – mandu, and in Georgia – khinkali. While there are thousands of dumpling recipes globally, the basic idea remains the same – a dough pocket filled with a mixture of meat, cheese, shrimp, vegetables, or other ingredients and spices.
This year, “Vičiūnai Group” plans to produce nearly 7 million kilograms of dumplings, which is roughly equivalent to the weight of the entire metal structure of the Eiffel Tower! This impressive volume amounts to 400 million individual dumplings of various types. While Lithuanians most commonly choose pork or chicken-filled dumplings, the range of dumplings available in global cuisine can be surprising. Some of the more unusual fillings include shark fin, crocodile meat, black scorpion, frog legs, various mushrooms, seafood, bean paste, or tofu.
Dumplings can be savory or sweet, boiled, fried, or steamed, with countless variations of fillings and sauces. “Viči” alone offers dozens of different types of dumplings – vegan, vegetarian, with various meat or cheese fillings, and even sweet options. In Lithuanian supermarkets, you can find more than 20 varieties of dumplings produced by “Vičiūnai Group”.
The employees of “Vičiūnai Group” dedicate a lot of attention and effort to understanding the needs of different markets and creating products that meet their expectations. As a result, the range and most popular types of dumplings vary in each country. For example, gyoza dumplings with baby eels are sold in Spain, Xiao Long Bao dumplings with tofu are popular in Italy, most dumplings supplied to the Baltic States are meat-filled, and organic gyoza dumplings are especially popular in Germany.
This year, “Vičiūnai Group” was awarded a bronze medal at the prestigious “British Frozen Food Awards”. The prize was given to their pork and kimchi gyoza dumplings, recognized for their exceptional quality and taste.
The fact that “VIČI” gyoza dumplings are loved and appreciated by customers in different countries is further confirmed by the consistently growing sales volumes. "For the past five years, we have observed a steady growth trend, with annual increases of 15%. This year, we are approaching a record growth rate, which we expect to reach 30%. Most “Viči” dumplings are exported to Latvia, Estonia, and Spain," says “Vičiūnai Group” CEO Šarūnas Matijošaitis.