The Coca-Cola System, in partnership with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the "Smart" collective, launched a unique program "Coming from South Serbia", through which the development of small food producers from South Serbia would be supported.

A total of nine selected entrepreneurs will directly promote and sell their products through the new online platform www.stizemosajuga.rs , as well as within the caravan that will be held in 10 Serbian cities. The participants will also get four months of development support, as well as mentoring assistance, from Coca-Cola system experts in the spheres of marketing, sales, manufacturing technology and finance.

“The great energy of these hardworking people, their dedication, commitment to tradition and quality have been a great inspiration and motive for us to support them. Although they have great potential, small entrepreneurs in South Serbia face many challenges on a daily basis, among which the long-term business development is the key one. This also motivated us, along with our partners, to design a program that would enable local businesses to gain new knowledge and incorporate into their businesses the experiences that we, as a company, have and share with them. In this way, we will once again support business development, as well as the entire economy, just as Coca-Cola has been doing in Serbia for more than half a century,” said Jovana Paljić, a representative of Coca Cola HBC Serbia.

The companies that participate in the program "Coming from South Serbia" produce homemade jams, marmalades, fruit preserves, roasted red pepper sauces, dried fruits, various types of flour, spices and teas, and they are as follows: Jastrebac Story (Jastrebac), Status Winery (Svrljig), Agro Iris Cooperative (Sabac), Cone-Shaped Paper Bag (Varvarin), Оrganic Tea Serbia (Nis), Chrono (Leskovac), Radan Rose (Lebane), Polo Ltd. (Cacak) and Grandmother’s Recipe from South Serbia (Vranje). All of them developed innovative and quality food products, used local raw materials and traditional recipes, have a HACCP certificate, product declaration and specification of products in accordance with the rulebook.  

At the Zemun Quay, where the program was presented, the smells and flavors of South Serbia were spread, which many visitors, guests and passers-by could not resist. All of them were able to buy program participants' products at symbolic prices and thus support the local producers.

Source: “Danas” daily, “Blic” daily, Business Morning website and Coordination Body