The leading local poultry company Koka, which operates as part of the Vindija Group, is the first in Croatia to be awarded the "Proven Quality Croatia" certificate of the National Quality System. The mark guarantees that the products have been subjected to the additional control of poultry meat production, ensures consumers get a top-quality product, and at the same time confirms that the meat is produced entirely in the Republic of Croatia. On this occasion, the Minister of Agriculture, Marija Vučković, visited the modern facilities of Koka in Varaždin, along with associates from the ministry and representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture, State Secretary Zdravko Tušek, Head of the Directorate for Animal Husbandry and Food Quality Zdravko Barać, Varaždin Prefect Anđelko Stričak, and hosts from Koka and Vindija.

The "Proven Quality" system was established by the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with EU legislation. The aim was to label products with a sign that represents a guarantee to consumers that they are buying a local product whose quality is the result of high standards in the method of production, care for the environment and animal welfare, and the shortest possible time from stable to table. In addition to the quality certificate for poultry meat awarded to Koka, there are also certificates for fruits, vegetables and table eggs.

"I am extremely glad that together we are witnessing the first labelling of products in the poultry sector with the Proven Quality Croatia label. This is another step towards strengthening product quality and recognising local production, but also in protecting both our consumers and producers. It is a national quality programme in which the sectors of fruit, table eggs, vegetables and now poultry meat all participate equally. The label guarantees that Croatia is the country of origin of the main ingredient and at the same time the country where the product was produced or processed, which is of inestimable importance for producers and consumers. We welcome the efforts of Vindija and Koka, their innovation and focus on investment and progress, which are partly co-financed from the Rural Development Programme. During the tour of the facility, we witnessed first-hand the progress of Koka and the investment made that has helped to speed up work, improve competitiveness and increase productivity, which are all strategic goals of this Ministry,"said the Minister of Agriculture, Marija Vučković.

As many as 25 Cekin products will carry the "Proven Quality Croatia" label, another confirmation of unquestionable quality and safety in the production of poultry meat in Koka. This will be additionally highlighted by the specific sign on the packaging.

"Behind Koka and our experts are six decades of tradition and continuous work, research and innovation - in short, a permanent effort to have a fully local product of top quality. Local in the full sense of the word. Our entire production process is organised as integrated poultry production, i.e. the production of poultry meat "from stable to table". It includes everything from the rearing of laying hens and day-old chicken hatcheries, to fattening broilers, the production of Blagodar feed, all the way to the final poultry meat products and distribution by means of which Cekin’s products arrive on the shelves of stores throughout Croatia within a maximum of 24 hours. This national quality recognition confirms our efforts and gives consumers an additional guarantee of safety and authenticity. Thank you to the Ministry of Agriculture and all the institutions involved, which confirms the excellence and quality of our Cekin chicken through a thorough and rigorous process. We believe that all of us together in the food industry, using the potential we have, with the support of the ministry, can and should achieve complete self-sufficiency in poultry production,"said Stjepan Sabljak, President of the Management Board of KOKA dd

"Proven Quality Croatia" also represents one of the steps forward in giving better information to consumers and raising awareness of preferences for domestic poultry products. In addition to labelling food products, the national system will also protect producers from unfair practices and increase the visibility of products on store shelves.

"Quality is the trademark of everything, more than 1,400 products in the Vindija Group's range, and the Proven Quality Croatia mark for poultry meat, which was awarded to our company Koka, is additional confirmation that we consistently adhere to the strict principles of excellence that make the Vindija Group a leader in the food industry in Croatia. Top quality is imperative for us, as it is in every company within the Group, and this certificate is confirmation and an encouragement to continue to develop and stimulate the food industry, with an emphasis on uncompromising consumer satisfaction,"said Nenad Klepač, President of the Vindija Management Board.

Additional confirmation of numerous forms of recognition

With this latest national certificate, Koka is the only one in Croatia to have its own "5 HR" mark, which proves that all five stages of integrated poultry production take place in Croatia. Furthermore, Cekin's chicken is the bearer of the mark "MEAT FROM CROATIAN FARMS - born and bred in the Republic of Croatia" issued by the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food/Ministry of Agriculture for original Croatian products with documented traceability from stable to table. 

The safety and quality of products is imperative for the business and further development of the Vindija Group, including Koka, whose production process complies with the current regulations of the Republic of Croatia and the EU and is certified by all relevant safety and quality standards (SSOP, HACCP, HALAL, KOSHER, IFS and BRCGS, AOECS gluten-free and ISO 9001 for the area of ​​quality management).

Since 2021, Koka d.d. has been the holder of the trademark for the national project of the Croatian Institute of Public Health "Healthy Living", which informs consumers that Koka products have a nutritional composition recommended for a healthy diet.