(within the frame of the Grant Programme in the Organic Sector supported by Switzerland)
About the company
Brancho Ukraine LLC (Brancho) is a family-run business from Zhytomyr region, founded in 2018. It specialises in the production of organic fruit and berry snacks using low-temperature drying (up to 45°C). This technology allows the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients to be preserved, as the fruits are not boiled and do not lose their natural nutrients.
Brancho is an example of successful women’s entrepreneurship: three quarters of the team are women, and almost all employees are local residents. United by common values, they create a product that combines consumer health with environmental responsibility. The company was the first organic producer in Ukraine to introduce completely plastic-free packaging: biocomposite material certified by TÜV Austria for home composting.
Brancho’s product range includes fruit rolls, chips, and edible teas. Snacks without sugar, colours, preservatives or thickeners are popular with health-conscious consumers. They can be found on the shelves of Goodwine and Silpo supermarkets, as well as in more than 50 local stores in Ukraine.
Support within the Grant Programme and achievements
Like many small producers, the company faced challenges: a short shelf life made it difficult to cooperate with retail chains, and the lack of modern equipment to control the physical characteristics of the product forced them to reduce the declared shelf life in order to minimise the risk of quality deterioration.
The grant support provided by the project “Women Entrepreneurship in the Organic Sector” helped to address these issues comprehensively. The company purchased a moisture analyser, which now monitors the stable quality of products during the drying process, more reliably guaranteeing the quality characteristics of the product. The extended shelf life confirmed with laboratory tests opened the door to new partnerships with retailers. This allowed the company to enter the shelves of Auchan Ukraine hypermarket, which became an important step towards strengthening the company’s presence on the domestic market.
At the same time, the team updated the packaging design, expanded the product range and launched its own online store. This has become a new channel of direct communication with consumers, who can now order their favourite snacks directly from the producer. In the first half of the year, sales grew by 7%, and by the end of the year, they are expected to grow by about 8% thanks to online sales.
These changes have not only strengthened Brancho’s market position, but also have a multiplier effect for the entire sector: The company purchases 100% of its fruit and berry raw materials from Ukrainian farmers, thus supporting the organic sector development.
Plans for the future
In the coming years, Brancho plans to expand its product range, especially its apple chips, and actively enter European markets, where demand for organic snacks remains high. The development of an online store with subscriptions, loyalty programmes and personalised recommendations should become an important tool for direct communication with consumers.
Advice from the founder
Andrii Shkliar: Organic business is about patience and commitment to your values: from sourcing and proper packaging to interacting with partners – every decision must be in line with your philosophy, and only then will this integrity bring results.
* Grant Program in the Organic Sector is funded by Switzerland and implemented within the framework of
- the project “Women Entrepreneurship in the Organic Sector” (WEOS) implemented by ICO “Information Center “Green Dossier” in partnership with Organic Initiative Public Association, and
- the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland).