The organic dehydrated vegetable mix belongs to the so-called premium food market. Guided by the idea that Serbia should be a country of small, expensive products, Ekofungi's aim is not quantity, but to meet the demands of the segment of consumers who appreciate quality food and are ready to pay the adequate price for it. This is also reflected in their agreement with the suppliers.
The new product appeared in the market in December 2017, when they obtained the certificate for the European market. It was recently presented at FRUIT LOGISTICA Berlin, and an exporting agreement has already been signed with a Slovenian distributor. Germany and Ireland are especially interested in the product.
Since the product is new in Europe and the world, they do not have direct competition in the market.
Ekofungi dehydrates 95% of fresh mushrooms produced, whereas only 5% are sent to bio-shops, restaurants and hotels – their clients of many year. The product has been certified for both the local and the European market (the difference is that, in the products for the EU, all ingredients also have to be EU-certified, which encourages producers to certify their organic production this way). The production is meant for export primarily, whereas a small portion can be found in organic food bio-shops in Serbia.
The current production capacity is 5,000 packs of 40 g a month, but the good market response has caused Ekofungi to consider procuring another dehydrator and expanding the production.
Since December 2016, the company has been organically producing edible mushrooms exclusively, and they now produce around 100 tons of fresh portobello mushrooms and 30 tons of oyster mushrooms a year.
Between 150,000 and 180,000 euros was invested in the development of the new, technologically innovative, idea and product – organic dehydrated vegetable mix, which they financed through their own know-how, the result of their previous innovations and projects and the operations of the Ekofungi School.
A 40 g pack costs EUR 3.5, whereas organic portobello mushrooms are sold at EUR 3 per kilogram.
If Ekofungi's organic dehydrated vegetable mix is your investment of the year favorite,
you can vote for it on the official website of the Aurea award.