OREANDA-NEWS. May 2, 2007. Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods OJSC [NYSE:WBD], Russia’s leading manufacturer of healthy food products, today announced the launch of a baby food factory in Kursk region. The new plant allows Wimm-Bill-Dann, the leading Russian producer of dairy products for children, to strengthen its position in the fast-growing segment for fruit and vegetable-based baby food products.

The Kursk baby food plant was acquired by Wimm-Bill-Dann in 2005. As a result of extensive renovation, 90% of the equipment was replaced. Today, it is the most modern plant of its type in Russia, making use of cutting edge global technology and the latest scientific research in the industry.
The composition of the fruit-based foods under the Agusha brand was developed in partnership with the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences to take into account children’s specific nutritional requirements. This resulted in vitamin enriched natural juices and fruit purees without any added preservatives or sugars.
“The Kursk plant is a major step forward for Agusha, as it provides a very significant expansion of our capabilities in two key categories - juice and puree,” commented Gary Sobel, the head of Wimm-Bill-Dann’s Baby Food business unit.

The company also has its own fruit orchards in Kursk region where it grows apples, cherries, pears and plums. In the next few years they will become a primary source of raw materials for the production of fruit juices and purees for children under the Agusha brand.
“We pride ourselves on the supreme and sustainable quality of our products, which is not only essential but vital in the case of baby food, - said Tony Maher, CEO of Wimm-Bill-Dann. - We are sure that the Kursk Agusha will be just as tasty, just as safe and just as loved as the Moscow one”.