There is no accounting for taste when it comes to the products of these nominees for the "Leader of the Year - 2025" business award

The products of the Soligorsk Poultry Factory and the Kobrin Butter and CHEESE FACTORY have appeared on the table of each of us at least once. And some of us have even become their fans over the long period of existence of these enterprises. The experts of the business award "Leader of the Year - 2025" visited the most famous production facilities of Kobrin and Soligorsk and were convinced: here they make not only high-quality, but also incredibly tasty!
OJSC Soligorsk Poultry Factory: it all starts with an egg
To understand how far ahead OJSC Soligorsk Poultry Factory has stepped over 54 years, it is enough to know this fact: in 1971, 3.5 million chicken eggs were produced here per year, in 2025, the same amount is produced in just three days. It is not surprising that now this enterprise is the largest in Belarus in terms of chicken egg production. And in terms of quail egg production, it is the only one.
- This year we commissioned an innovative closed-loop quail farm. This will allow us to increase production of our main product - chicken eggs. The premises where the quails are currently kept will be reconstructed for keeping laying hens, - explains DIRECTOR Inna Tolkacheva. 
The innovative farm was built in an open field in 1.5 years. It was commissioned in parts. The first site with an incubator and four poultry houses for 380 young animals - on November 11, 2024 , the second, where there are six poultry houses for 900 thousand quails of the industrial flock and 100 thousand of the parent flock - on June 10, 2025. A large warehouse was also located there, where eggs from each poultry house are delivered to the packing machine via a transport collection system through a gallery. 
There are many innovations on the quail farm. Inna Tolkacheva clarifies: she had to fly to Brazil to understand the intricacies of raising quails. There were no similar projects in the post-Soviet space. 
- Now we have not only the technology, but also birds from Brazil. However, together with the Institute of Genetics, we are working on breeding a Belarusian cross. The first result is already there: the bird that we section ourselves shows 91% productivity, while other quails - 84.4%, - the director specifies. 
Most of the quail eggs are awaiting processing. They will be sold in stores in various forms: boiled, smoked, marinated, creams and as a component of other products. For example, pasta. In addition, the Soligorsk Poultry Farm will continue to supply quail eggs to schools. - We continue to work to ensure that as many students as possible are accustomed to proper and healthy nutrition from childhood, - says Inna Tolkacheva.
She notes the strengths of the enterprise: constant expansion of the range, including exclusive offers such as creams on vegetable oils "PashtEgg", and high quality of products, confirmed by quality management systems.iso 9001, food safety management ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000. This implies constant monitoring by specialists, including Russian ones, since Soligorsk Poultry Farm cooperates with the largest dealers from RUSSIA. The company's products are also exported to Kazakhstan , Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Member of the expert council of the business award "Leader of the Year 2025", member of the Standing Committee on Housing Policy, Trade and Construction of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Belarus Elena Khilya noted that Soligorsk Poultry Farm surprised with innovative projects:
- The development of quail egg production in Belarus is very important, because our history includes the Chernobyl tragedy. After all, in Japan, which survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki, quail eggs were used to remove radionuclides from the human body. Therefore, I believe that every Belarusian needs this product. As a former HEAD of an educational institution, I am glad that quail eggs have been introduced into school meals - children consume healthy protein and microelements every day. This is how we raise a healthy nation focused on creation.  Kobrin Butter and Cheese Factory OJSC: Maintaining the Leader's Brand According to experts, every fourth kilogram of cheese on the Russian market is of Belarusian origin. This product is produced by many of our enterprises, but Kobrin cheese has always been in particular demand. And for good reason. The highest quality raw materials and the most modern production technologies allow Kobrin Butter and Cheese Factory OJSC to maintain the leader's brand. The high and stable quality of its products has been repeatedly confirmed by prizes from the Government of the Republic of Belarus, awards, gold medals and diplomas at national competitions, international exhibitions and business forums.  Kobrin Butter and Cheese Factory is an enterprise with more than 85 years of experience, the production capacity of which allows processing up to 650 tons of MILK per day. The plant's product line includes more than 150 types of dairy products: hard, semi-hard and processed cheeses , butter ,


cottage cheese ,sour cream ,ice cream , mayonnaise ,mustard , specialized nutrition for adults.
- We produce high-quality, safe and competitive products that meet domestic and international standards under the motto: "Always only the best!" We use high-quality raw materials and rely on modern technological solutions. Over decades of work, the Kobrin butter and cheese factory has created its own traditions and a wide variety of flavors, - says the director of the enterprise Ruslan Chibotar.
The products of the Kobrin butter and cheese factory are a real brand of the country, and the plant itself is a city-forming enterprise of the Kobrin district. Its share in the volume of industrial production of the district is more than 30%. The enterprise accounts for 8% of processed milk in the region and up to 2% - in the total scale of the Republic of Belarus. The enterprise also provides monthly financial assistance in the form of advance payments for milk supplies to agricultural enterprises of the raw material zone. 
- Our products are eagerly bought not only in Belarus, but also in Russia, Kazakhstan, CHINA, Georgia, Israel and other countries. More than 90% of the produced cheeses are shipped for EXPORT, - the head of the enterprise shared the data. 
The main activity of the Kobrin MSZ is cheese making. Up to 70% of milk from farms is sent to the production of hard cheeses. The enterprise understands that it is necessary to continuously confirm its competence and at the same time be an innovator. The products of the Kobrin Cheeses trademark have proven themselves well, and new products have always been warmly received by consumers. For example, the Emmental cheese is based on an original Swiss recipe. The technology for its production was developed jointly with Dutch specialists. 
Of course, in order to meet the highest customer requirements, modern equipment is necessary. The investment policy of the enterprise is aimed at constant technical re-equipment of production and the introduction of the most modern technological processes. In recent years, the semi-hard cheese workshop has been modernized, a project for the production of elite cheese has been implemented, equipment has been purchased and the production of dry mix for preventive nutrition has begun, and the refrigeration chambers and storage chambers have been updated. 
- Due to the increase in production capacity for cheese production, we are currently completing work on expanding the cheese ripening and storage chambers. In order to maintain production flow, the cold chain, and also to increase the production volumes of elite cheeses with a long ripening period, we are reconstructing the cheese-making workshop, - noted Ruslan Chibotar.
There is also a butter-making shop here. The company started its work back in 1939 with the production of butter, as well as cottage cheese and sour cream. The shop changed its appearance, expanded the range of products, and increased its capacity. The cottage cheese section was reconstructed, a new line for the production and vacuum packaging of cottage cheese and soft cheeses was installed. The products produced here have a delicate taste and consistency.
Consumers also loved Kobrin ice cream. The same one for which long queues lined up in the famous capital's shopping center. The delicacy contains only natural ingredients. This is the formula for success. The classic ice cream in a waffle cone, beloved by many, is made according to a 1962 recipe. 
For the team of the Kobrin butter and cheese making plant, the motto "Always only the best!" is an unshakable rule. They value the brand and name of the enterprise. 
The achievements of the enterprise were highly appreciated by the members of the expert council of the International Business Award "Leader of the Year - 2025". The assistant to the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus Ruslan Mizulo shared his impressions:
- All products are made from natural high-quality selected milk. The employees of the enterprise constantly monitor global trends in the development of the dairy industry, relying on international practice and personal experience, modernize equipment, implement effective management systems, constantly work to improve the qualifications of specialists and invariably strive to create a high-quality and popular product.