On 3 September, a key event for the Ukrainian baking industry took place in Kyiv: the GALA ceremony of the Baking Awards 2026. This year, the competition gathered 82 implemented projects, which is nearly 2.5 times the previous year's figure. These are dozens of working solutions that define the future of the market, optimise production processes, and shape a new culture of consumption.

The team at Khlibodar LLC (TM Rumyanets) presented four large-scale projects to the professional jury. Over the 22 years of operation of our industrial manufacturing plant in Rivne, we have become convinced that the trust of consumers and partners is built not on mythical tales of centuries-old traditions, but on real innovations, consistent quality, and a human approach to the business. Three of our submissions received the highest awards of the competition.

Logistics Automation: Grand Prix BAKE IT SAFE for the PC-DATA System

The PC-DATA system implementation project launched in July and August 2020. Our main goal was to eliminate a dual risk: product mis-sorting during order picking and the hazard of workplace injuries in the warehouse. We opted for a light indicator system from a Dutch manufacturer, which effectively guides the employee through the warehouse and minimises the human factor.

The integration results speak for themselves. Before the system was installed, 15 warehouse workers served 600 retail outlets. Following the PC-DATA launch, 12 employees successfully pick orders for over 2,000 outlets. The packing volume has quadrupled without an increase in staff, while we have significantly reduced the congestion of vehicles and people in the warehouse and phased out paper invoices.

Consumer Care: BAKE FOR CARE Victory with 'Zlakovyi' Toast Bread

This project began in March 2025 as a response to a strong, widespread consumer demand for healthy eating and clean-label products. We developed an innovative cold-mixing recipe where the dough temperature does not exceed 24 degrees Celsius and fermentation occurs directly in the baking tins.

The unique feature of 'Zlakovyi' (Cereal) bread is its record-breaking grain mix content, which accounts for 17 per cent and includes flax seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and rolled oats. Combined with dark malt extract, this creates a robust vitamin profile and a distinct flavour. Consumers appreciated the product: by the end of 2025, we had sold 10,000 kg of this bread, and the brand's share in the segment grew to 12.5 per cent.

Export Potential: BAKE FOR SMILE Victory with the Frozen Poppy Seed Pastry Swirl

In October 2025, we launched a project to introduce our bestseller to export markets. Deep-freezing technology became the strategic solution, resolving the issue of a short shelf life and opening up opportunities for long-distance logistics.

Our pastry swirl has been adapted into three formats (350 g, 200 g, and 100 g) as a ready-made solution for European retail. The product features premium raw ingredients: the poppy seed filling makes up 51 per cent of the finished product's weight, and the use of natural apple pectin guarantees a perfectly clean cut without voids between the dough and the filling. Thanks to this solution, the sales volume for the frozen pastry swirl increased by 1,500 per cent over two years, and the sales geography expanded to six new markets, including the USA, Spain, Italy, and Greece.

New Niches: Quick-Frozen Doughnut Range Another ambitious step was the launch of a range of 13 types of quick-frozen doughnuts in January 2025. Our aim was to create a Ukrainian alternative to imported 'to-go' desserts. Through the efforts of our technologists, we achieved a stable shelf life of 180 days and flawless European product quality.

Olesya Tkachuk, Commercial Director of Khlibodar LLC, commented on the results: "The Baking Awards 2026 demonstrated that the market demands concrete, measurable solutions. As a modern industrial manufacturing plant, we focus on efficiency. Implementing PC-DATA has allowed us to guarantee our partners absolute delivery precision whilst scaling our logistics fourfold. And the success of the frozen pastry swirl proves that a Ukrainian product can confidently compete on supermarket shelves in the USA or Spain. We build our business on accurate data, safety, and consistent quality."

We thank the organisers for creating a platform that makes the experience of the professional community visible, as well as the jury members for highly rating our work. We continue to press forward. Bread and inspiration!