Karas - EBRD effective cooperation

2014-10-17

During the September 2014 Karas signed a 1,5 year contract with The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on joint implementation of project aimed at developing Karas national food chain.<img alt="" src="https://www.karas.am/media/wysiwyg/IMG_1917.JPG" style="width:400px">It is important to mention that the project is managed and monitored by EBRD Small Business Support Group. The essence of the project is to provide Karas with professional adviser from EBRD with a vast experience in the service sector - in various European countries. This adviser has become a highly successful, self motivated, hardworking senior Retail Manager Steve Winham, who worked at Burger King - global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, as well as major European supermarket chains.Tigran Yuzbashyan co-owner of Karas chain: “The major program implemented jointly with the EBRD is the introduction of the HACCP standards (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe, and designs measurements to prevent, eliminate or reduce these risks to a safe level. HACCP system can be used at all stages of a food chain, from food production and preparation processes including packaging, distribution, etc”.In order to implement the HACCP system, Karas chain plans not only to explore their own products and production methods, but also to apply this system and its requirements to the suppliers of food and raw materials, auxiliary materials, as well as to the system of wholesale and retail trade.Ashot Harutyunyan co-owner of Karas chain: “The result of our cooperation with EBRD will be the adaptation of all business processes of Karas chain to the international standards for its subsequent entry into the international market with the opening of new restaurants”. On the photo (left to right). Steve Winham – EBRD adviser, Tigran Yuzbashyan - co-owner of Karas chain, John Eskebaek - Coordinator of the enterprises development program in Armenia from EBRD, Ashot Harutyunyan - co-owner of Karas chain.