Krivan, Jasna, Liptov- names which are a real notion equally in Kosice, Zilina or Hradec Kralove. However, these names are not geographical names, but cheese names with a nation-wide reputation because of their specific aroma and taste, characteristic only for steamed cheese from Liptov.

For the existence of Liptov dairy in Liptovsky Mikulas so far, whether as a former organisational unit of the Central Slovakian dairies or as a current private incorporated company, a constructive dialogue with partners from basic industry remains a characteristic feature. Hidden behind this phrase is an interest to solve highly seasonal milk production by processing to a long curing cheese and to export them abroad. Export is necessary due to a highly seasonal milk production by the basic industry, and is one of the decisive stability factors of animal production oriented to a milk production in the region of operation of the dairy. During the years this interest has profiled itself into a leading position of the Liptov dairy in Slovakia in cheese export. From the volume of annual production of 1650 tons, 1100 tons are exported. The Czech Republic and Hungry are taking the first places on the list of leading customers, further we would find countries like Croatia, Germany, Italy, USA, Russia, as well as the world leaders in cheese industry, such as the Netherlands, France and Denmark.

"Sooner or later Slovakia will become part of the European economic structures which for us means necessity to create operating and hygienic conditions for production in advance, corresponding to criteria in standards of the European Union", says its general director, Ing. Jan Blchac, about the export plans of the dairy. "Along with the awareness of equal partnership with the Western European cheese producers we are creating conditions for increasing our export by 200 to 300 tons per year."

The whole adaptation process to the standard of developed European economies started in the dairy five years ago, when they invested into this process tens of millions Slovak crowns and the result is a new cheese factory meeting all hygienic parameters valid in the European Union.

"Now we are investing into the basic milk treatment," says J. Blchac about the continuing modernisation process. "We are installing a special centrifuge for separating undesirable micro-organisms that can influence cheese curing. We have made significant investments into the milk collection and intake hygiene, as well as into the system of quality control. In 1996 the Swiss SGS awarded us a quality certificate ISO 9002. Since then we had four audits from which each had shown that our system is functional and brings also expected results."

In the management process a lot of energy is spent on communication with milk suppliers to make them realise their responsibility for the quality of final production. By using suitable forms of motivation they had reached a status in which the quality of milk is comparable with the European standard. Together with a modern technology the result is an increase in the number of customers to a double compared to 1994, and cheese which received a series of awards at Agrokomplex in Nitra, in competitions within the Slovak dairy Union, on the cheese festival in Austria, and last but not least, golden medals of the Slovak Gold Foundation.

"The most important award is the Slovak Republic Quality Prize for 1997", emphasises J. Blchac. A year ago our company was evaluated as the best exporter, the only one in the agricultural sector.

The Czech consumers, which represent a traditional group of customers, have an opportunity to test how the modernisation and investment changes are seen on the products, in their taste and visual form. "We have followed up the good reputation of our Liptov steam cheese in Moravia ", says J. Blchac. "In order for us to have a more operative influence on the sale in the Czech Republic, we established a daughter company Tatramilk in Roznov pod Radhostem, by which the cheese and other diary products distribution has a more dynamic, flexible character."

The whole development process in Liptov dairy has besides the mentioned positive features also problematic sides from which J. Blchac finds, as the most serious one, the state export promotion not respecting specific conditions of the region with large meadows and pastures and a high milk production. Milk surplus during summer time reaches 10 to 12 millions liters which with regard to the absence of milk dehydration plant in Zilina region cannot be processed otherwise than into cheese products. The producer accumulates in them significant funds with a long payback period. While other countries exporting cheese are promoting export on the level of 300 to 500% of our promotion, our export is supported by the state with 20 SK, while the limit for the exporters not to export with a loss, is 30 SK. It is not possible to compensate this difference with the price because warehouses in Europe are full of cheeses and it is difficult to stand in the world competition.

Slovak Trade FORUM