Activities | viciunaigroup.eu

HISTORY

The company was established in Plungė in 1994. In the beginning of operation, the main area of activities of Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB focused on salted and smoked salmon products and seafood in brine.

In 1997 the company acquired and launched surimi product production line. Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB was the first in Lithuania to start producing crab sticks from surimi.

In 2000, upon entering the Western Europe market, the main trademark Vičiūnai was changed to VIČI – today widely known in the world“.

In 2001, to satisfy the needs of the growing market, two new production departments were built and started their operation, where crab sticks and formed surimi products were produced.

In 2002, after reorganization of Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB, the fish and surimi production was separated and the fish production lines were transferred to the newly established subsidiary company Vičiūnai ir Partneriai, UAB.

The main company’s office and production departments are established in Plungė town, while part of the departments operate in Kaunas.

The company is the member of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK) Plungė Union of Industrialists since 1997.

Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB is a socially responsible company. For many years together with other companies within Vičiūnai group it has been the patron and sponsor of various social, cultural and business events. The company actively contributes to education of Lithuanian young specialists; it invites the students of universities and colleges to internship, and supports scientific camps and conferences.

As of 2005 the company participates in the activities of “Mentor Lietuva”. The aim of this initiative is to foster and promote the prevention of drugs and other addictions among the youth.

ACTIVITIES

The main activity area of Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB is production and sales of food products from surimi (crab sticks, crab meat, bites, chunks, crab claws, etc.).

The products of Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, AB can be purchased in more than 35 countries all over the world: France, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Estonia, Poland, United Kingdom, Croatia, Belorussia, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Holland, Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary, Kazakh Republic, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, Serbia and Montenegro, Greece, Spain, Israel, USA, Latvia, Moldova, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, etc.

Around 94% of all the production manufactured by Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB is exported.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Certificates:

BRC Global Standard for Food Safety certificate, obtained in 2019,
IFS Food Version 6.1 certificate, obtained in 2017.

Currently Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB has the operating HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and self-control systems.

Pursuant to the European Union directives, Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB has been given the state veterinary inspection number.

In 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB was awarded the nomination of the “Lithuanian Exporter of the Year”. The initiators of the nomination of Lithuanian exporter of the year are the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.

In 2008, during the European Seafood Exhibition in Brussels, the product “Surimi Imperial” produced by Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB became the finalist for the award of the nomination Prix d'Elite. The competition Prix d‘Elite is arranged to evaluate and pick out the best seafood products newly developed for the European market.

In 2008 Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAb was presented with the certificate of White Wave. The White Wave project was initiated by the association “Investors' Forum”, the Civil Society institute, the United Nations development programs in Lithuania, Transparency International Lithuanian Chapter, civil compound “Dalios sąskaita", the Citizens Alliance Business Group. The goal of the White Wave project is to promote transparent business practice in Lithuania.

In 2008, Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB product “Special snow crab Royal, 120 g” was awarded silver medal of the “Lithuanian Product of the Year 2008”. The contest “Lithuanian Product of the Year” is organised by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists. The goal of the contest is to increase competitiveness of high-quality Lithuanian production, to introduce and to strengthen the country’s industrial production, goods and services to national or international consumer, promoting the selection of high-quality Lithuanian product, thus developing Lithuanian business expansion.

In 2009, during the exhibition European Seafood Exhibition in Brussels, the product “Surimi Imperial” with kiwi taste produced by Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB became the finalist of the prestige competition Prix d'Elite, arranged by the largest in the world sea products organizers.

In 2009 frozen crab taste sticks from surimi (350g) produced by Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB were awarded in the frozen food category in the selection of the “Most Successful New Product 2008, organised by AC Nielsen, the international research company.

Plungės Kooperatinė Prekyba, UAB snow crab sticks were awarded gold medal, and crab taste sticks with cottage cheese and dill filling were awarded silver medal in the contest “Lithuanian Product of the Year” in 2009.

In 2010 the U.S. Baltic Foundation, USBF awarded the company with the nomination of Corporate Citizenship Award. Vičiūnai Group was recognized as the fastest growing and most influential group of companies in the region of the Baltic States.

In 2010 the cooperation agreement was signed with Kaunas University of Technology.

In 2010 the company was granted the award of the “Successfully Operating Company 2010 by the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK).

In 2010 the “Lithuanian Product of the Year 2010” crab taste sticks “Rich snack” were awarded gold medal.

In 2011 the “Lithuanian Product of the Year” silver was awarded to the crab taste sticks “Stick and Dip”.

In 2012 the “Lithuanian Product of the Year” silver was awarded to the pate with tuna “PATE”.