How 75 years of experience turned into an innovation factory

Over three quarters of a century, we have managed to go from producing classic margarine and mayonnaise to developing innovative solutions for the food industry, private brands and professional partners.

Thanks to Business Panorama magazine for the publication, which showed Olkom as we really are: open to the market, innovative and purposeful:

Business Panorama 09|2025

Business Panorama 09|2025

Olkom Group is a company that, over three quarters of a century, has managed to go from producing classic margarine and mayonnaise to developing innovative food products that shape modern gastronomic trends. Today, the brand is recognized by millions of consumers, and its products can be found in home refrigerators and on the production lines of confectionery factories and bakeries both in Ukraine and abroad.

“We are working on a new generation of products and technologies that change the perception of food, – says Hanna Oleksenko, Key Shareholder of Olkom Group. – Our task is not just to produce, but to create solutions that make life tastier, gather relatives at one table and create warm traditions that are passed down from generation to generation.”

Sauces as a response to a new culinary culture

The modern food market is very dynamic and changeable. The decline of the Ukrainian sauce market in 2022 could have been a serious challenge, but Olkom Group used this time to rethink its product portfolio, expand its range and improve recipes.

We have started the production of several new product categories. Now, in addition to iconic mayonnaises, the Olkom brand offers a whole palette of ready-made sauces and ketchups. This category remains one of the most dynamic and promising for us, as it is a large and fairly stable market segment.

Today, ketchups and red sauces make up about 30% of our sauce range. The line includes ketchups “Classic”, “Chili” and “For steak” – each with its own character. And the red sauces – “Chili style” and “Satsebeli style” – are already original interpretations created by the company’s technologists.

“We closely monitor culinary trends, but most importantly, we understand that the modern consumer wants to quickly and tasty diversify his diet,” – comments Olena Lobach, Marketing Director of Olkom Group.

Therefore, Olkom does not stop at traditional recipes. Seasonal new products in the white sauce category – Allioli Style Sauce and Street Food Sauce for burgers and shawarma – are designed to satisfy the growing demand for taste experiments.

Private Label: soy sauce, marinades and tomato paste

One of the drivers of the company’s growth has been work in the Private Label segment. We offer production and packaging services according to the classic PL scheme, provide full technological support for the product for customers and have experience in effective cooperation with both the largest national retail chains and foreign partners.

A good example is cooperation with the Chumak brand after it lost its production in Kakhovka: since December 2022, Olkom has been producing more than 30 SKUs for it. In particular, flavoring sauces, ketchups, soy sauce and marinades are produced at the production facilities of the Kyiv Margarine Factoty (production unit of Olkom Group).

It should be noted that this company has high and rather strict requirements for product quality and production certification. And we are proud that we have passed all external and internal audits with dignity and were able to become a reliable partner in this matter. Olkom adheres to and fulfills the established international requirements of the FSSC 22000 (v.6) Food Safety Management System and ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System standards.

Industrial expertise: specialized fats and margarines

A less well-known to the general consumer, but strategically important direction of Olkom Group is the production of specialized fats and margarines for industrial use. The company became the first in Ukraine to introduce trans-isomer-free fat modification technologies, adhering to EU and US standards.

Candies or wafers, cookies or chocolate – do you like any of the above? So, you are probably dealing with Olkom food ingredients, which account for about 30% of the market. After all, in addition to the confectionery and dairy industries, specialized fats are used in the production of bakery products.

“We have been working with many partners for over 10 years. In recent years, with the withdrawal of foreign food ingredients from the market, there has been a need to increase supply volumes, as well as create new products and solutions to meet the needs of our customers,” – says Hanna Oleksenko. One example is “Blended fat” 82.5% – a mixture of vegetable oils and butter without trans fats, suitable for all types of confectionery, including the production of creams.

Olkom Group today is more than just a food manufacturer. It is a real comprehensive food holding that shapes trends and dictates standards. From ketchup packaging on the family table to ingredients for premium confectionery – 75 years of experience, innovation and taste are embedded in each product.