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CONTACT: Connie Currier (330) 753-2293 COUNTRY PURE FOODS SHOWCASES CAPITALISM TO EASTERN EUROPEANS AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2000 - How does a former communist country introduce the fruit juice industry into a new free market economy? That is the challenge brought to Country Pure Foods, Inc. (CPF), by a 16-member Ukrainian delegation interested in the transfer of technology and management practices to their recently created free market economy. "It has been nearly four generations since a free market economy existed in Ukraine. The delegation wanted to know anything and everything about how we run our juice company," said Ray Lee, chief executive officer for CPF. Most of the delegation members occupy executive management positions in Ukrainian food and juice companies with the exception of one member who was from the Ukrainian government Voldymyr Kalashnikov wanted to know how federal and state rules and regulations affect the juice industry. "In Ukraine, a company can't just introduce a new juice product by putting it on the shelves; they have to get government approval, which, in some cases, can take months," said Leland Cole, president, Center for Economic Initiatives (CEI), based in Cincinnati, Ohio. CEI is the organization responsible for coordinating the Ukrainian tour. "It is our goal to introduce proven business principles and methods that will have a rapid and sustainable impact on the Ukraine's economy," said Cole. The delegation toured Country Pure Foods' Akron plant, focusing on the quality assurance department, aseptic packaging, portion cups, K-PAK and half-gallon production. Inna Berezhko, a delegation member, had a number of questions about apple juice, the number one selling juice in their country, including supplier sources and the prices of low and high acid juices. The Ukrainians went on to ask about CPF's suppliers, distribution methods and wages. "They don't fully understand the concept of distributors, and why we use them. They are also hungry to learn more about marketing tools and techniques," Lee said. Ukraine became an independent republic with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since that time it continues to struggle with high inflation and high energy costs. Despite pressure from the International Monetary Fund to accelerate reform efforts, its economy still lags. "These types of tours are important in helping this country's economy get back on track. Country Pure Foods is clearly a company the Ukrainians can learn from," Cole added. Country Pure Foods processes and sells a variety of fruit juices and fruit drinks. In addition to its private label, food service and retail products, the company provides contract packaging (co-pack) services for large nationally recognized juice companies.
From left to right: Yuriy Sadovyy, Igor Buryak
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John Roman (far left) explains a
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