Racha Natural Products

Initiator/Founder/Owner:

The organization has six founders: Lasha Gagoshidze, Kote Gamkrelidze, Irakli Dvaladze, Mamuka Khutsidze, Eka Iashvili, Mindia Khutsidze. The cooperative has 11 members (four women, seven men). The cooperative is governed by an assembly and a board. Lasha Gagoshidze is the chairman of the board, Mamuka Khutsidze, Eka Iashvili and Lasha Gagoshidze are the members of the board.

Contact person:

Lasha Gagoshidze - Chairman of the Board

Funding: 

The Cooperative has received funding from the state, non-governmental organization and invested private funds.

Background:

Founded in 2014 by the initiative group, the same year it registered as a cooperative. The cooperative has received the Georgian quality mark from the National Food Agency and they are registered as a business operator. For export they permanently hold the recognition number, which meets the European Union standard. The organization has also received a certificate of Agroecology from Biological Farming Association Elkana. Currently the cooperative works on the introduction of the HACCP standards. They own 1,300 square meters of land, 500 square meters of the building and 300 beehives. Currently the cooperative produces only honey, but from 2021 they plan to produce royal jelly.

Registration Address:

#7 Kostava str., 0400, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region, Ambrolauri, Georgia

Short description of the center/object:

The Cooperative operates in Georgia, but they have exported several times to Germany. Usually, they use raw material from the cooperative member farmers. They produce 6-7 tons of different honey types a year. When the demand is high, they take up to 30% supplement from other local, non-cooperative member farmers. The Cooperative is planning to open the honey testing laboratory in Racha in May 2021, where the quality of honey will be tested. Usual customers are traders and individual buyers. The Cooperative plans to make 30gr packaging of honey and supply local hotels and restaurants. Located near the central road in Ambrolauri, the facilities are easily accessible by public transport, car. Parking is available at the premises.

Services provided by the centre:

Wholesale trade accounts for a large portion of sales. However, individual customers and intermediary retailers can also access the products.

Periodicity:

Works all year round.

The production offered by the center:

Honey

Terms of access:

To sell:

●      Takes raw materials from members of its own cooperative and in case of lack of it, the cooperative takes up to 30% of supplement from other local, non-cooperative member farmers.

To buy:

●      The company sells its products through wholesale trade. Individual customers can also purchase the product, starting from 240 gr packaging to bigger amounts.