On July 11, 2013, Nikolai Tagintsev, Deputy Governor of Lipetsk Region, Vladimir Osetrov, acting head of Lev Tolstoy District, and Andrey Kovalev, head of OJSC Lipetskmyasoprom, took part in the grand opening of a grain receiving center for the Lev Tolstoy Feed Mill.
Lev Tolstoy Feed Mill specializes in producing all-natural pig fodder, and is one of the largest facilities in this sector in Lipetsk Region. Its production rate is 30 tonnes per hour, and its overall grain storage capacity exceeds 95,000 tonnes. Commissioning of the new receiving center will speed up grain receiving considerably from 65 tonnes per hour to 150 tonnes per hour and also increase the mill's turnover.
"The presence of a large investor like Cherkizovo Group in the region contributes to the greater prosperity of both the region and each of its residents, Deputy Governor of Lipetsk Region Nikolai Tagintsev said. "Local residents do not have to look for work outside the region and have the opportunity to work close to home, earn decent salary, and have a stable and comfortable life.
"Cherkizovo Group is the largest investor in our district, Vladimir Osetrov, acting Head of Lev Tolstoy District supported Nikolai Tagintsev. "Thanks to this company, the district's residents are able to find well paid jobs, the district budget is replenished and important social facilities are being built. Last year, for example, we opened a high school in our town that was built with tax revenues, including those from Cherkizovo Group.
"Lev Tolstoy Feed Mill is an important component of the company's business, Andrey Kovalev added in turn. "We are a vertically integrated holding whose goal is to be fully self-sufficient in fodder. In the past year, the company has completed construction of new pork units in Lipetsk, Tambov and Voronezh Regions. Productivity of the pork division has grown, as well as the demand for fodder in the cluster. Increasing grain receiving capacity will help speed up many of the production processes at the facility, which will make it more efficient.
The Lev Tolstoy Feed Mill has a capacity of 600 tonnes per day. Russian company Skess was used for the construction of the feed mill and silo. With the silos completing construction in February 2008; and the feed mill in June 2008.
The technology and machinery of Dutch feed machinery manufacturers Ottevanger were chosen for the project. The feed mill has an important advantage in pricing compared with other general feed mills, due to production being located in a single storey building rather than a typical multistorey building.
A video tour of the feed factory made by Skess can be seen below.
